Learn to sail in the off season when you study the sailing terms used aboard sailboats everywhere. Here are a handful of common terms and sailing tips to get you started!
Abaft Behind a particular point of reference. -- When the wind blows abaft the beam, you are sailing on a broad reach.
Abeam On the side, amidships, or at right angles to the vessel. --Find an object abeam on your nautical chart to use as a turn bearing.
Aboard On or inside a vessel. --Before you step onto another boat, etiquette states that you must first ask with this simple statement: "Permission to come aboard?"
Afloat To keep floating; to prevent sinking. --The crew worked the pumps throughout the night to dewater the vessel and keep her afloat.
Aft (After) In back of; toward the stern. The location of something (like the cockpit) in the back of a boat. Can also mean to move an object or yourself toward the back (stern) of a boat. --The skipper held onto the lifelines as he worked his way from the bow, aft to the cockpit.
Aground To tough the sea bottom with any part of a boat. Also referred to as "grounding" or "grounded". -- In inlets, a vessel must take care not to go aground on the sand bars, often indicated where the waves break the heaviest.
Ahead In the direction of, or from the direction of the bow. -- With binoculars, we could just pick up the bow of a large freighter dead ahead on the horizon.
Aids to Navigation (ATON) Prominent objects on land or lighted or unlighted buoys, lights, and beacons in the water, used to help guide a vessel to safety. -- The navigator should use floating aids to navigation with caution because in storms, they can drag out of position.
Air (also, wind) Often used by sailors with one of these words: light, moderate, or heavy-- to describe the sailing wind conditions. -- In heavy air, you will need to balance the boat through reefing to reduce heeling and weather helm.
Aloft High above the deck of the boat. --The crew will need to hoist me aloft to the top of the mast to retrieve the lost halyard.
Amidships In the center or middle of the boat. -- If you hold the tiller or wheel to center the rudder, then the rudder is said to be amidships.
Apparent Wind The wind created by a combination of boat movement (boat wind) and true wind. -- When sailing to windward, the apparent wind speed increases in velocity.
Astern Behind the boat; also movement in a backwards direction. -- --The stern of most boats moves to the left when you shift the engine into astern propulsion. .
Auxiliary A secondary means of propulsion on a sailing vessel. --Small diesel engines or gasoline outboard engines serve as auxiliary propulsion in most modern cruising and racing sailboats.
Aweigh (or "Weigh") To lift--or "break" the anchor off of the sea bed; also to "weigh" anchor. -- The skipper wants us to signal her as soon as the anchor is aweigh so that she can maneuver into the channel.
Learn to sail with more confidence when you know these sailing terms. You will soon gain the knowledge you need to talk like a salty sailor--wherever in the world you choose to go sailing!
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