Basic Keelboat Certification

Bow

Front of Boat

Deck

Deck

Cabin Trunk

Roof and sides of cabin house

Port

Left

Cockpit

Low space in the deck where the crew sits and where the tiller is located

Stern

back of the boat

Transom

The flat or slightly curved surface at the stern of the boat

Rudder

The steering foil, directed by a tiller, that is used to turn the boar

Tiller

The lever arm attached to the rudder that allows you to steer the boat

Keel

The weighted vertical fin at the bottom of the boat. Its weight reduces tipping (heeling) while its shape keeps the boat from sliding sideways through the water.

Companionway

A passageway from the cockpit to the area below the deck

Hull

The body of the boat that floats in the water

Starboard

Right

What is the rig?

The rig includes the sails, spars, supporting wires, and sail controls

Forestay

The part of the rigging that is attached to the bow of the boat that keeps the mast from falling backwards.

Mast

The vertical spar in the middle of the boat from which the sails are set

Jib

The forward sail that is attached to the forestay

Spreader

Struts that extend from the side of the mast that keep it from bending sideways

Telltales

Piece of cloth, yard, or tape that indicate wind flow over a sail

Shrouds

Rigging wires extending up from the sides of the boat to the mast that keep the mast from falling to either side. Attached to the spreader.

Boom

Horizontal spar extending back from the mast. The foot (bottom) of the mainsail is attached to it.

Mainsail

The sail hoisted on the back side of the mast and attached to the boom.

Batten

A slat of fiberglass, plastic or wood inserted into a pocket in the sail to help it hold its shape

Backstay

The part of the rigging, attached from the top of the mast to the stern of the boat, that keeps the mast from falling forward.

Lift

When the wind comes from the side of the boat, flowing around both sides of the sail, creating lift which "pulls" the boat forward.

Push

When the wind comes from behind the boat, it "pushes" against the sail and simply shoves the boat forward.

Pull Mode

Wind creates higher pressure on the inside of the sail & lowers the pressure on the outside thus creating lift. The lift pulls the boat forward & sideways. The keel keeps the boat from being pulled sideways

Push Mode

Wind coming from behind, the sail and boat are simply pushed forward through the water

A sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind because...

there is no difference in wind pressure between one side of the sail and another, so no push or pull

Trimming the sails is...

the process of adjusting the position of the sails so they are sheeted (pulled) in until the sails stop luffing to make the boat go

Trimmed Too Loose

Sails are trimmed too far out; minimum power; reduce speed;

Trimmed Too Tight

Sails are trimmed too close and windflow is turbulent (slow);

How to correct trimmed too loose

Sheet in sails to point when they stop luffing

How to correct trimmed too tight

Let out the sails until they luff, then bring them back in until they stop luffing and feel the boat pick up speed

Reaching

Sailing across the wind; fast and easy way to sail

Beam Reach

Sailing across the wind; where the boat is perpendicular to the wind with the wind coming over the side of the boat

Checklist to Beam Reach

Wind is coming across the boat; sheet sails halfway out; steer towards landmark and adjust sails to changes in boat or winds direction.

No-Go Zone (upwind)

Boat cannot sail directly into the wind, can only sail about 45 degrees; 90 degree area in front is no-go zone

Close-Hauled

Sailing upwind; where the boat is as close to the direction of the wind as possible without going into the no-go zone

Checklist for Close Hauled

Wind is coming from bow; sheet in the sails all the way; steer to the jib using the telltales and the luff of the sails to achieve smooth air flow; helmsman sits on the windward (high) side opposite the boom; crew trim sails and move from one side to the other to help keep the boat from heeling

Broad Reach

Sailing downwind, but at an angle to it, so the wind is blowing over the quarter (back corner) of the boat and the sails are sheeted perpendicular to the wind.

Checklist for Broad Reach

Wind is coming from behind; sheet out sails so they are perpendicular to wind; adjust sail to changes in boat or wind direction; watch the jib for accidental jibe

Jibe

When the boom swings across the boat

How to correct a jibe

If the jib goes limp and starts to cross the boat, head the boat toward the wind by pushing the tiller toward the boom until the jib returns and fills with wind again.

Starboard Tack

The wind is blowing over the right side of the boat

Port Tack

The wind is blowing over the right side of the boat