sailing terms Archives - American Sailing

40 Sailing Phrases to Know

American Sailing — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:50:03 +0000

Sailors have a way of speaking, and the sport has its own language. Some sailing phrases are common in everyday language, while others are only really used on a sailboat. The ones common in our everyday language have a nautical origin that will make you a more enlightened sailor, as well. The ones used only on a sailboat? Well, the sailing lifestyle lends itself to a specific language to describe situations and offer comedic relief when we are at the mercy of the conditions, and those will make you smarter and more adaptable in real life as well. Check out 40 sailing phrases you should know.

The post 40 Sailing Phrases to Know appeared first on American Sailing .

40 Sailing Terms: How to Talk Like a Sailor

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 16:11:00 +0000

In 1983, the American Sailing Association was founded by Lenny Shabes. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of sailors have become certified in the ASA sailing curriculum. This year, we celebrate 40 years as the leading sailing education entity in the United States. So when you get out on the water, you can be sure that ASA-certified sailors are sailing safely and confidently. Sailing has its own language, and when you go through the ASA curriculum, you’ll find yourself using terms like port and starboard if talking about directions, or referring to a zephyr or a squall when discussing the ...

The post 40 Sailing Terms: How to Talk Like a Sailor appeared first on American Sailing .

Where Are We Going: Understanding Points of Sail

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:03:00 +0000

The direction of the wind dictates the direction a sailboat can sail. Understanding the points of sail is vital to understanding how sailors orient themselves relative to the wind. The Points of Sail describe the range of courses a sailboat can and cannot travel. Understanding the Points of Sail It is physically impossible for a boat to sail directly into the wind but how do you describe that? This “no-sail” zone is approximately a 90-degree zone dead into the direction of the wind. While this zone varies in size depending on the boat and the wind speed it is a ...

The post Where Are We Going: Understanding Points of Sail appeared first on American Sailing .

The Sailing Terms You Didn’t Know That You Didn’t Know

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:52:37 +0000

Is sailing a foreign language to you? Sailors have a set of terms that help communicate instructions to crew and generally describe the operation of the vessel. However, some terms are not always as mainstream for the average sailor. These are a few of the terms that you may not be familiar with. In fact, you may never use these terms on a boat but you’ll appreciate that you know them. Abaft – Toward the stern, as in “abaft the beam” Athwartships – Across the boat from side to side Cringle -An eye formed by sewing a rope or metal ...

The post The Sailing Terms You Didn’t Know That You Didn’t Know appeared first on American Sailing .

What is Seamanship?

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:57:00 +0000

How is seamanship defined? It is pretty much everything that happens on a vessel.

The post What is Seamanship? appeared first on American Sailing .

What Does That Mean on a Boat?

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:49:00 +0000

Confusing Boat Vocabulary Inevitably you will have a non-sailor on your boat and you’ll ask them for something or you will refer to something else and they will stare at you with bewildered eyes. That is why boat terminology is so fun because it is meant to confuse the non-sailor and make the sailor appear to be all-knowing. Well, that’s not technically true but the vocabulary of a sailor tends to utilize words from the English language that already have meaning and give them another definition. Take a look at these boat terms and see if you have mastered your ...

The post What Does That Mean on a Boat? appeared first on American Sailing .

The Anatomy of a Boat

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 14:03:00 +0000

The parts of a boat will soon become second nature when you learn to sail.

The post The Anatomy of a Boat appeared first on American Sailing .

Sailing Terms Quiz (IV)

American Sailing — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:15:54 +0000

We know how much you like us to test your sailing knowledge so give this quiz a shot and see if you know all of these sailing terms?

The post Sailing Terms Quiz (IV) appeared first on American Sailing .

Sailing Terms Quiz (III)

Pat Reynolds — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 17:40:02 +0000

How about another awesome ASA quiz, where you get compliments or a wisecrack. The last two have been about terminology and we've had feedback saying that they were too easy.

The post Sailing Terms Quiz (III) appeared first on American Sailing .

Sailing Terms Quiz (II)

American Sailing — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 15:41:36 +0000

Another quick little online sailing terms quiz from our Sailing Made Easy book.

The post Sailing Terms Quiz (II) appeared first on American Sailing .