Bournville Yacht Racing
Radio Control and Free Sailing yacht Racing
A part of the Bournville Radio Sailing and Model Boat Club
Glosssary of terms
Abeam At a right angle to the length of the boat.
Aft Toward the stern of the boat.
Angle of attack The angle of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind.
Astern Toward the stern of a vessel, or behind the boat.
Backstay A mast support that runs from the top of the mast to the stern of the yacht; it may be adjustable in order to bend the mast backward or to increase tension on the forestay.
Beam reach Sailing on a point of sail such that the apparent wind is coming from the beam (side) of the boat at about a 90° angle. A beam reach is usually the fastest point of sail. A beam reach is a point of sail between a broad reach and a close reach.
Bow The front of the boat.
Beat to Windward A'beat' against the wind which will involve tacking the yacht a number of times before reaching the windward buoy. The course therefore actually sailed to the windward buoy takes the form of a zig zag and not a straight line
Broad Reach This represents a range of wind angles between beam reach and running downwind. The
sails are eased out away from the boat, but not as much as on a run This is the
fastest direction, relative to the wind, a yacht can sail.
Clear Astern One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment are behind a line abeam from the
Clear Ahead aftermost point of the other boats hull and equipment. The other boat is clear ahead
Close hauled Sailing with the sails hauled tight, sailing the boat towards the wind as much as possible
Clew The lower aft corner of a sail.
Cunningham A line used to control the tension along a sail's luff in order to maintain proper sail shape.
Dead ahead A position directly in front of the vessel.
Dead astern A position directly behind the vessel.
Fairlead A fitting designed to control the direction of a line with minimal friction.
Gybe To change tack with the wind crossing behind the boat.
A gybe causes the main sail to 'flip' violently from one side of the yacht to the other.
(also Jibe)
In irons All way lost when attempting to tack. The boat is pointing into the wind with the sails flapping, but it will not pay off on to either tack by its own momentum and is temporarily out of control.
Mark A buoy or other object used to mark a location.
Port The left side of the boat from the perspective of a person at the stern of the boat and looking toward the bow
Port tack Sailing with the wind coming over the port bow.
Starboard The right side of a boat, from the perspective of a person at the stern of the boat and looking toward the bow.
Starboard tack A sailboat sailing on a tack with the wind coming over the starboard side and the boom on
the port side of the boat. If two boats under sail are approaching, the one on port tack
must give way to the boat on starboard tack.