The handy notes above should get you through your first sea-faring experience. Below are some other terms to help you through on your next encounter!

Fore & Aft

Sounds suspiciously like an Irish folk duo your mammy listens to… but fore actually means at or towards the bow, while aft is at or near the stern.  

Mast

An easy one - the mast is the big stick that runs up towards the sky from the middle of the boat, with sails attached.

Genoas

If the sail overlaps the above position, it's a genoa, or - easy to remember! - jenny.

Line

The fancy name for the many lengths of rope you’ll come across on a sailing vessel!

Rigging

Not something a curly haired 80s action-cop character does, but the name for the various ropes which operate a boat’s sails.

Knots

The many ways sailing folk tie their rope. Seriously, it’s impressive! Knots can also refer to the speed whilst sailing - one knot is equal to one nautical mile or 1.51 miles per hour.

Fathom

We’re not trying to sound posh! Fathom is actually a nautical unit of length (equal to six foot).

True Wind

No, not the latest HBO series! This refers to the wind’s direction and speed when stationary or on land, not while moving.