Tag: sailing terms

It was time to hoist the sails and everyone onboard was needed to raise the heavy canvas sails. The crew taught us how to work as a group in this incredible task. Hand over hand, we used every muscle – arms, legs, back.

Some of the terms we learned:

halyard-line used for hoisting sails.

hoist-the length of the luff of a fore-and-aft sail

luff-to get so close to the wind that the sail flaps; also the forward edge of a sail

mainsail-boomed sail projecting aft from the mainmast

mainsheet- line that controls the main boom.

make fast-secure a line.

ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!– Whenever commands weren’t followed! Mostly heard from JP when he was in charge.