The 10 Must-Know Sailing Terms for Beginners ⛵

Are you new to sailing? Learning a few key terms will help you feel more confident on the water. Here’s a fun and simple glossary to get you started!

1. Bow 🚢

• The front of the boat.

2. Stern ⚓

• The back of the boat.

3. Port ⬅️

• The left side of the boat when facing forward.

4. Starboard ➡️

• The right side of the boat when facing forward.

5. Helm 🎡

• The steering wheel or tiller used to steer the boat.

6. Boom 📏

• The horizontal pole (or spar) attached to the bottom of the sail. Watch your head—it swings!

7. Mainsail & Jib ⛵

• The two primary sails: the mainsail (the big one) and the jib (the smaller one in front).

8. Tacking & Jibing 🔄

• Turning the boat by moving the bow (tacking) or stern (jibing) through the wind.

9. Knot 🪢

• A unit of speed equal to 1.15 miles per hour (also a way to tie ropes!). Short hand version of Nautical Miles per Hour.

10. Cleat ⚓

• A fitting on the boat where ropes (or “lines”) are secured.

📌 Want to learn more? Join our beginner sailing courses and set sail with confidence! 🌊