A Glossary of Sailing Terms

125

An Australian 2 man sailing dinghy, 12.5 feet long. The subject of these web pages.
Apparent Wind: The wind that is felt when on a boat. The Apparent Wind is the wind that the boat actually sails in. It is only equal to the true wind when the boat is not moving.
Aquanaut: Type of sailing dinghy.
Bag: Used to store the spinnaker when not in use. Usually there are two, placed just aft of the bulkhead, either side of the centrecase. The spinnaker is placed in the bag by hand by the crew.
Bailer: Used to remove water from the boat. There are two types, Automatic and Non-Automatic. Automatic ones are also called Venturis (see Venturi). Non-Automatic ones are usually buckets or plastic bottles.
Barber Hauler: Used to hold the spinnaker brace down (usually just forward of the sidestay on the gunwhale). The leeward barber hauler should be let off when the spinnaker is in use.
Batten: Piece of plastic or wood used to stiffen a sail. A 125 has five battens in its mainsail, 2 full length battens and 3 leech battens.
Beam: The maximum width of a boat. 1.43m for a 125.
Bear off: Changing direction so that the bow of the boat is moving away from the wind (to the left when on a starboard tack, and to the right when on a port tack).
Beat: Sailing upwind.
Beaufort Scale: Wind speed scale, relates the wind strength to the sea conditions. See "The Beaufort Scale" for details.
Boom: Spar attached to the foot of the mainsail, and to the mast via the gooseneck.
Bow: The front of the boat.
Brace: The windward spinnaker sheet. Should be held close to the boat by the barber hauler. Also called guy.
Bridle: Two lengths of line attached to the gunwhales near the transom to form a triangle to which the mainsheet is attached.
Broad: As in broad reach or broad run. Away from the wind.
Bulkhead: Vertical piece at the stern of the foredeck. Usually contains inspection hatches for access to the buoyancy tanks.
Buoyancy Tank: Internal tanks on a boat for buoyancy purposes. A 125 has 5 separate buoyancy tanks forming the seats and foredeck, these tanks make a 125 almost unsinkable.
Capsize: Having the boat at such an angle that the mast is in the water.
Centreboard: Flat piece of, usually, wood placed through the centre of the boat into the water. Prevents the boat slipping sideways. Also called centreplate.
Centrecase: Part of the boat containing the centreboard.
Centreplate: See centreboard.
Chute: Used to store the spinnaker when not in use. Chutes usually run from the bow to the thwart, along the port side of the boat. The skipper usually pulls the spinnaker into the chute via a retrieval line.
Coaster: Small decorative items for placing drinks on. 96/97 National Titles coasters are available for purchase along with other 125 merchandise.
Competitor: Someone you are trying to beat in a race. Usually a friend, and a good person to consult with about how to sail your 125.
Cradle: Metal or wooden frame on which a 125 can be placed on the beach or grass.
Crew: The person who uses the trapeze and controls the jib and spinnaker.
Cunningham: Line used to tighten the luff of a sail.
Daggerboard: A type of centreboard that is inserted vertically in the centrecase. Can be found on Sabres, minnows and other dinghies. A 125 does not have a daggerboard.
Deck: The top of the boat.
Demonstration Boat: A fibreglass boat, owned by the association. It is available for hire.
Diamond: Diamond shaped lengths of metal which position the mast in relation to the stays. Used to induce mast bend. An alternative to spreaders. Not allowed on 125s.
Draft: The depth of a sail.
Drag: Friction, mainly occurs between the hull and the water, but also between the hull, sails and crew and the wind.
Dry Suit: Sealed, water proof suit enabling the wearing of warm dry clothing underneath.
End-boom sheeting: The mainsheet is connected, via a bridle, to the transom.
Fairlead: The eye through which the jibsheet comes to be cleated. Usually movable on a track.
Fibreglass: Also know as GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic), a building material used for boats and surf boards.
Fitting: General term for purposeful item other than sails, spars, lines and hull.
Flying Junior: Type of sailing dinghy. See the Flying Junior web pages for details.
Foam Sandwich: All production built fibreglass 125s have a foam layer sandwiched between the fibreglass.
Foil: General name for rudders and centreboards.
Foot: The bottom section of a sail.
Foredeck: The part of the boat forward of the bulkhead.
Forestay: The wire rope attaching the mast to the bow. Usually contained in the luff of the jib.
Gooseneck: The fitting attaching the boom to the mast.
Gunwhale: The top piece of the side of the boat.
Gust: A temporary increase in the wind strength.
Guy: See brace.
Gybe: Turning the boat from one tack to another by passing the stern of the boat through the eye of the wind.
Halyard: A line used to hoist a sail.
Head: The top of a sail.
Heat: A particular race in a regatta that counts toward the final results.
Heeling: Tilting the boat. If the boat has heeled more than 90 degrees then it has capsized.
Helm: The direction the boat heads when the tiller is let go. Windward, lee or neutral.
Heron: Type of 2 man sailing dinghy.
Hiking: To lean out of the boat.
Hull: The boat without sails, spars, foils or fittings.
Inspection Hatch: Hole in buoyancy tanks for enabling access.
Invitation: Usually refers to the first race of a regatta, not counted in the final results.
Jib: The forward sail attached to the mast.
Jibsheet: Sheet used to adjust the jib.
Kite: See spinnaker.
Knock: Change in wind direction causing the boat to luff. A knock on one tack is a lift on the other.
Knot (kn): Speed measurement, 1 nautical mile per hour. 1kn=1.8km/hr.
Lazy E: Type of 2 man sailing dinghy
Leech: The aft end of a sail.
Leech Ribbon: A ribbon attached to the leech to determine the air flow across it.
Leeward: Downwind
Lift: Change in wind direction causing the boat to be oversheeted. A lift on one tack is a knock on the other.
Line: Rope
Luff: The forward part of a sail.
Luffing: The luff of the sail is flapping.
Lull: Temporary decrease in the wind speed.
Mainsail: The largest sail, connected to the mast and boom.
Mainsheet: The sheet used to adjust the mainsail.
Mast: Tall spar from which all sails are supported.
Mast Rake: The angle of the mast with respect to the boat.
Mast Step: The fitting on which the mast sits.
Measurement Certificate: Certificate to say that the boat meets the measurement rules. All boats need to be remeasured after a change of ownership or major modifications (eg new mast).
Membership: To compete at state or national titles, you must be a member of your state association. To join the Victorian association, fill out a membership application form.
Mid-boom sheeting: The mainsheet is connected, usually via a traveller, to the thwart.
Minnow: Type of sailing dinghy.
Mirror: Type of sailing dinghy. See the Mirror web pages for details.
Moment of Inertia: Equivalent to rotational mass about a given axis of rotation.
Nappy: Triangle of material on foredeck, used to store the spinnaker.
National Championships: Annual regatta to determine the national champions.
National Executive Committee: National body coordinating rule and constitution matters.
National Titles: See national championships.
Outhaul: Line used to pull the foot of the mainsail out along the boom.
Plan set: Set of paper patterns of all components needed to build a 125. Available from state measurers.
Planing: Movement of the boat through the water generating significant amounts of lift to lift a large part of the boat out of the water.
Pole: See spinnaker pole.
Port: Left hand side when facing the bow.
Pouch: See bag.
President: Hard working individual coordinating organisation of events.
Puff: See gust.
Pump: Sudden movement of the sails in order to push the boat forward.
Race: Usually conducted around a course. The main occupation of most 125 sailors.
Reach: Sailing with the true wind at roughly 90 degrees to the boat.
Regatta: Series of races, with winners determined on overall results of all the heats.
Rig: The boat without the hull, ie the sail and spars. To rig the boat is to set up the spars and sails for sailing.
Rounds up: The boat points higher into the wind.
Rudder: Foil attached to the transom, used to steer the boat.
Rudder Box: Connects the rudder to the tiller. Available from the association.
Rugby Jumper: Warm layer of fashionable clothing. Available from the association.
Run: Sailing with the wind behind you.
Sabre: Type of sailing dinghy.
Sail: Piece of material hung from the mast and used to move the boat through the water.
Scupper: Flap covering hole cut into the transom. Lets water out of the boat.
Sheet: Line used to adjust the position of a sail.
Shroud: See stay.
Shy: Sailing angle closer to a beat.
Sidestay: Stay attached to the gunwhale, usually via a spreader or diamond.
Skipper: The person in charge of the boat, usually the one with the tiller.
Slicker: Waterproof jacket without padding.
Spar: General term for masts, booms and spinnaker poles.
Sparrow: Type of sailing dinghy.
Spinnaker: Brightly coloured sail used on reaches and runs.
Spinnaker Pole: Used to project and control the spinnaker.
Sponge: Used to remove water from the boat.
Sponsor: Generous companies and individuals who provide money or goods to help stage events. We strongly encourage all 125 sailors to support them. To find out about sponsoring an event, contact Catherine Morelli on 03 9274 7817.
Spray Jacket: See slicker.
Spreaders: Lengths of metal attached to mast and sidestays, used to control mast bend.
Square: Dead before the wind
Stall: Turbulent airflow across a sail, causing it to be inefficient.
Starboard: The right hand side of the boat, when facing the bow.
Stay: Lengths of wire attached to the mast and hull. Used to hold the mast up.
Stern: The back of the boat.
T-Shirt: Collarless shirt worn in summer. 125 t-shirts are available.
Tack: Sailing in a direction. starboard or port as appropriate.
Tacking: Changing from one tack to the other by turning the bow of the boat through the eye of the wind.
Tell Tale: Piece of cotton or audio tape attached to sail to determine the air flow across it.
Thwart: Planking across middle of boat.
Tiller: Length of wood or metal attached to the rudder in order to control it.
Topping Lift: Line used to control the height of the spinnaker pole.
Trailer: Used to transport a boat on the road.
Transom: The aft face of the boat.
Transverse: Across the boat.
Trapeze: Length of wire attached to the mast enabling the crew to stand horisontally from the boat.
Traveller: Sliding car attached to a track on the thwart, used to affect the shape and position of the mainsail.
Triangle: See nappy.
Trolley: Vehicle for transporting a boat along the beach or grass.
True Wind: The wind speed and direction as measured when not moving.
Tweakers: See barber haulers.
Twist: How open the leech of a sail is.
Upwind: In the general direction of the wind's origin.
Vacuum moulded: Type of process used in the manufacture of fibreglass boats
Varnish: Waterproofing liquid applied to wood.
Venturi: Fitting in hull of boat for removing water from the boat. Movement of the boat sucks water out through the venturi.
YachtingVictorian: The governing body for sailing in Victoria. See their website.
Video: Magnetic tape containing moving images and sounds. Videos of the 1996/97 125 National Titles are available for $50.
Water Bottle: Container for storing water for drinking. 125 water bottles are available for $6.50
Waterline Length: The length of the boat actually in the water.
Wave: Higher than normal section of water. Good to catch to go faster.
Wet Suit: Neoprene suit worn to keep warm. Does so by trapping a layer of water next to the skin.
Wind: Moving particles of air. Enables the sport of sailing to exist.
Wind Shadow: Slower wind caused by a boat to windward.
Windward: Upwind
Wire: See trapeze
Yardstick: Number used to compare boats of different speeds. Currently 123 for the 125.

This file may be freely copied and distributed, provided the information within it is not altered, and due credit is given to the National 125 Association.
It's URL is http://www.125assoc.com/glossary.asp