Rigged for Murder (Windjammer Mystery Series) (30 page)

Gunwale—(pronounced “gun’l”) A boat’s rail at the edge of the deck.

Hatch—An opening in a deck, covered by a hatch cover.

Halyard—A line that hoists a sail and keeps it up.

Head—A boat’s bathroom.

Heading—The course, or direction the boat is pointing.

Heel—The tilt or laying over of a boat caused by wind.

Helm—The tiller or steering wheel.

Jib—A sail carried on the headstay or forestay.

Knot—1 nautical mile per hour.

Lace-lines—Also reefing lines. Used to secure a sail to the bowsprit or boom.

Lazarette—A small hold, usually in the stern, for stores and gear.

Lee of the island—The side of the island sheltered from the wind.

Leeward—Away from the direction of the wind. Pronounced “luard.”

Make off or Make fast—To secure a line to a belaying pin or cleat.

Mainmast—Mast farthest aft on a schooner. Carries the mainsail.

Mainsail—The sail attached to the largest mast on the boat.

Marlin spike—A pointed metal tool used to open knots, start holes in wood, or do rope working such as splicing.

Painter—The bow line on a dinghy.

Peak halyard—Raises the end of the gaff farthest from the mast.

PFDs—Personal flotation devices.

Port—The left side of the ship when facing forward.

Port tack—Sailing to windward with the wind coming over the port side of the boat.

Pulpit—A railed structure at the bow or on the bowsprit. Only seen on historic schooners that were fishing vessels and used harpoons for catching big fish such as swordfish.

Quarter—The side of the boat near the stern.

Ratlines—System of tarred rungs used to climb to the top of the mast.

Running—Sailing with the wind astern.

Saloon—The main cabin on a ship.

Scandalize the forepeak—On a gaff-rigged vessel, lowering the peak of the sail to slow the vessel.

Schooner—A boat with two or more masts; the foremast or forewardmost mast is shorter that the mainmast.

Scuppers—Holes in the rail or gunwale that allow water drain-age.

Sole—A cabin or cockpit floor.

Starboard—The right side of the ship when facing forward.

Starboard tack—Sailing to windward with the wind coming over the starboard side of the boat.

Staysail—A small headsail set between the jib and the foremast.

Stem—The forward edge of the bow.

Stern—The aftmost part of the hull.

Throat halyard—On a gaff-rigged boat, the halyard that raises the luff or forward edge of sail along the mast.

Thwarts—The seats in a dory or dinghy.

Upwind—Toward the wind.

Windward—Upwind

Yawl boat—A small, powerful motorized boat used to push a motorless vessel.