40 TERMS TO HELP YOU START TALKING LIKE A SAILOR

Aft – The rear section of the boat
Bow – The front section of the boat
Mast – The vertical pole that supports the sails
Boom – The horizontal pole that extends from the mast and supports the foot of the mainsail
Winch – A device used to adjust the tension on a rope or wire, usually used to hoist sails or adjust rigging
Helm – The steering wheel or tiller used to steer the boat
Tiller – A lever used to steer the boat by moving the rudder
Rudder – The hinged device at the back of the boat used for steering
Keel – The fin-like structure beneath the boat that provides stability
Centerboard – A retractable fin-like structure beneath the boat that provides stability and helps prevent sideways movement
Ballast – Heavy material, such as lead, placed in the bottom of the boat to provide stability
Beam – The width of the boat at its widest point
Freeboard – The distance from the waterline to the deck of the boat
Draft – The distance from the waterline to the deepest point of the keel or centerboard
Rigging – The ropes and wires used to support the mast and sails
Headstay – The wire or rope that runs from the top of the mast to the bow and supports the forestay
Forestay – The wire or rope that runs from the mast to the bow and supports the jib or genoa
Backstay – The wire or rope that runs from the top of the mast to the stern and helps support the mast
Shroud – The wire or rope that runs from the mast to the side of the boat and helps support the mast
Halyard – The rope used to raise a sail
Sheet – The rope used to control the angle of a sail
Jib – A triangular sail in front of the mast
Genoa – A large, overlapping jib that provides additional power
Mainsail – The large, primary sail that is attached to the mast and boom
Spinnaker – A large, colorful, balloon-like sail used for downwind sailing
Tack – The forward corner of a sail
Clew – The aft corner of a sail
Reef – To reduce the area of a sail in high winds
Port – The left side of the boat when facing the bow
Starboard – The right side of the boat when facing the bow
Leeward – The side of the boat away from the wind
Windward – The side of the boat facing the wind
Heeling – When the boat leans to one side due to wind or weight distribution
Running – Sailing with the wind coming from behind the boat 
Hiking – The act of leaning out over the side of the boat to counteract heeling
Capsize – When a boat overturns or turns over
Jibe – A maneuver in which the boat turns downwind and the mainsail moves from one side of the boat to the other
Tack – A maneuver in which the boat turns into the wind and the mainsail moves from one side of the boat to the other
Nautical mile – A unit of measurement used to measure distance at sea, equivalent to 1.15 miles
Knot – A unit of measurement used to measure speed, equivalent to one nautical mile per hour