SAILOR'S TALK

Windward, the direction from which the wind is blowing. The windward boat gets the wind before its opponent does and is in a generally favorable position.

Leeward, the direction the wind is blowing. Thus the leeward boat is downwind of its opponent.

Jib, a triangular foresail used when sailing into or across the wind.

Spinnaker, a huge, billowing foresail used for sailing downwind.

Sheet, a line used to tighten or slacken the sails.

Halyard, a line used to raise sails.

Stays, wires supporting the mast.

Spreaders, horizontal struts that force the stays out from the mast, thus providing greater support.

Luff, the forward edge of the sail.

To luff is to head the boat directly into the wind, which sets the sails flapping.

Tack, the course a boat is pursuing in terms of the direction from which the wind hits her bow (a boat is on starboard tack if the wind is blowing from the right-hand side, a port tack if from the left-hand side). To tack is to change course while sailing into the wind.

Jibe, to change course while sailing downwind.

Beat, sailing into the wind.

Run, sailing with the wind astern.

Reach, sailing with the wind roughly at a right angle to the boat.

Point, heading as close into the wind as possible without luffing.

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