fbpx Glossary | LEARNZ

Glossary

aft

Towards the stern (rear) of the ship.

barquentine

A sailing vessel with three or more masts; with a square rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged main, mizzen and any other masts.

beam reach

When the wind is at a right angle to the sailing craft. The wind is coming across the boat at a right angle to the centerline, the relative bearing would be 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock.

bearing marker

The direction of a distant object relative to the current course.

boom

A spar (pole) that supports the foot of the mainsail.

bow

Forward part of the hull of a boat or ship.

broad reach

The wind is coming from behind the sailing craft at an angle; at a relative bearing of about 4 o'clock or 8 o'clock.

close hauled

The closest to the wind that boats can efficiently sail and is usually a relative bearing of 1 o'clock or 11 o'clock. On this point of sail the sails are brought in as close to the centerline of the boat as possible.

close reach

The wind is coming from ahead of the boat with a relative bearing of 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock. The fastest point of sail for most boats.

downwind

The direction that the wind is moving.

fore

Located at or toward the front of the boat; forward.

hauora

Well-being - includes the physical, mental and emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of health.

helm 

Take control of (verb). Part that steers a ship/boat (noun).

Hinemoana

The ocean is known as the Moana nui a Kiwa, the Great Ocean of Kiwa, but is actually personified in Hinemoana, the Ocean Maid.

Hinenui te Pō

Goddess of night and death and the ruler of the underworld in Māori mythology. She is a daughter of Tāne. The red colour of sunset comes from her.

hoist (sails)

To raise/put up.

hull

The main part of a ship or boat.

in irons

A sailing craft is said to be "in irons" if it is stopped with its sails unable to generate power in the no-go zone.

jib

Sail near the bow (front) of a sailing vessel.

ketch

A sailing vessel with two masts; a tall mainmast and a mizzen.

lashing

Using ropes for tying, wrapping or connecting things.

line

On board a boat, this is what you say instead of “ropes" and includes all ropes, cables and cordage. The only rope is the anchor rope (which can also be a chain).

mainsail

The largest sail on a sailing vessel.

mast

Any vertical pole for supporting sails, rigging, flags, etc, above the deck of a vessel.

mizzen

The sail aft (towards the rear) of a sailing vessel.

nautical mile

A unit of distance equal to 1,852 metres that is used for sea and air travel.

navigator

A person who plans how to reach a destination.

no-go zone

Sailing craft cannot sail directly into the wind, nor on a course that is too close to the direction from which the wind is blowing.

ocean current

A continuous flow of water in the ocean.

ocean swells

Rolling waves that travel long distances through the ocean.

outrigger

A part that is attached to the side of a boat or canoe to keep it from turning over in the water.

passage planning

Setting the course to a destination.

points of sail

The angle a boat sails at. Close hauled (beating), close reach, beam reach, broad reach, and run; as in: Sailing a full circle we will cover all the points of sail.

quartermaster

Person in charge of steering a ship and the use of signals on a ship.

reaching

When the wind is coming from the side of the sailing craft, this is called reaching.

rigging

Rigging is the name for the system of wire cables and ropes that both support the sails and allow them to be controlled.

running

A point of sail where the wind is coming from directly behind the boat. Directly downwind with the sails let out at right angles to the centerline of the boat. The wind is at a relative bearing of 6 o'clock.

sailor

A person who works on a boat or ship as part of the crew.

skipper

Master of a ship/boat.

schooner

A boat with two or more masts, the forward of which is the same height or shorter than the after.

sloop

A one-masted sailing boat with a mainsail and jib rigged fore and aft.

spar

A pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fibre used in the rigging of a sailing vessel to carry or support its sail.

square rig

A sailing ship with large square sails. These primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars

steering hoe

Paddle used to steer a waka.

stern

The back of the boat

Taha hinengaro 

Mental and emotional well-being.

Taha tinana

Physical well-being.

Taha wairua 

Spiritual well-being.

Taha whānau 

Social well-being.

tiller

A lever used to turn the rudder of a boat from side to side.

trim

Adjust the sails so they catch the wind properly.

upwind

The direction opposite to where the wind is blowing.

watch

Members of the crew are assigned to keep watch over the ship while at anchor. In practice they monitor the position of the ship to detect movement of the anchor and alert to crew to any problems.

watch captain

Watch captains are responsible for communicating the rules of the sea to the crew and making sure the crew are sailing the correct course. Watch captains help skipper the waka, allowing the skipper to rest when needed.

wayfinding

Another name for traditional navigation, without the use of modern instruments.