Where we sail

Shipping terms

Parts of the Boat
Rigg or Rigging – The poles, wires, ropes and sails used to make a vessel sail.
Schooner – a vessel with the large mast at the back & smaller mast near the front.
Bow – front of the vessel
Stern – back of the vessel
Port – left hand side of the vessel
Starboard – right hand side of the vessel
Keel – the heavy fin along the bottom of the vessel that keeps it pointing straight and up right.
Rudder – the fin behind the keel which turns the vessel
Helm – the wheel or stick attached to the rudder which allows the crew to steer.
Galley – The kitchen
Saloon – the living room
Heads – The toilets
Fore cabin – the bedroom

Parts of the Rig
Mast – the vertical poles that hold up the sails & rigging
Booms & gaffs – the horizontal poles that stretch the sails outwards
Halyards – ropes used to hoist or lower the sails
Sheets – ropes used to pull the sails in and out.
Bowsprit – a pole that stick out the front of a vessel
Baggywrinkle – the woolly things on the rigging that prevent the sails chaffing on the other parts of the rigg.