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Sailing Terms for Beginners — 40 Words You'll Hear on Day One
Published · Last checked October 2026
Port is the left side of the boat facing forward and starboard is the right. The bow is the front, the stern the back. Windward is the side the wind blows from and leeward the side it blows to. Sheets are ropes that control sails, halyards hoist them. Tacking turns the bow through the wind; gybing turns the stern through it.
Directions and parts of the boat
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Port / starboard | Left / right, facing forward |
| Bow / stern | Front / back |
| Ahead / astern | In front of / behind the boat |
| Abeam | At right angles to the boat's side |
| Windward / leeward | Towards the wind / away from the wind |
| Helm | The tiller or wheel; also the person steering |
| Cockpit | The sunken area where you steer and work the sails |
| Heads | The toilet |
| Galley | The kitchen |
Ropes and sails
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sheet | Rope that controls a sail's angle |
| Halyard | Rope that hoists a sail |
| Mainsail / jib or genoa | The sail behind the mast / the sail in front of it |
| Boom | The horizontal spar at the foot of the mainsail |
| Winch | A drum for pulling in ropes under load |
| Cleat | A fitting for making a rope fast |
| Fender | A cushion that protects the hull alongside |
| Warp | A mooring rope |
Sailing manoeuvres
| Call | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ready about … Lee-oh | Prepare to tack … tacking now |
| Ready to gybe … Gybe-oh | Prepare to gybe … gybing now |
| Ease / sheet in | Let a rope out / pull it in |
| Bear away / head up | Turn away from / towards the wind |
| Heave to | Set sails to stop the boat and hold position |
Look up over 500 more words in the sailing glossary or start the free Competent Crew course.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I remember port and starboard?
'Port' and 'left' both have four letters. And 'there's no red port left': port is left and its light is red.
What's the difference between a rope and a line?
On a boat almost every rope has a specific name for its job: sheet, halyard, warp. 'Line' is a general word for a rope in use.