General sailing

General sailing

Terms used to sail, navigate, and maintain a sail boat.

Industry: Sailing

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General sailing

claw

Sailing; General sailing

To hang well to windward, as to "claw off a lee shore."

put up the helm

Sailing; General sailing

To bring the tiller to windward, so that the rudder is turned to leeward, and consequently the head of the vessel goes off to leeward or "off the wind."

fall

Sailing; General sailing

The loose end of the rope of a tackle, the hauling part of a tackle; also applied generally to the tackle of the bobstay and the topmast backstays.

square knot

Sailing; General sailing

A knot used to join two lines of similar size. Also called a reef knot.

nose-ender

Sailing; General sailing

Dead on end. A wind which blows directly down a vessel's intended course, involving a dead beat.

topmast

Sailing; General sailing

A second spar carried at the top of the fore or main mast, used to fly more sail.

near the wind

Sailing; General sailing

Close to wind; generally used in a sense to convey the meaning that the vessel is too near the wind, as "She's near forward," meaning that the head sails are shaking or lifting.