Before the first knot or the first tack, you need the words. Learn them on a pirate sloop, then hide the labels and see how many you can place yourself.
The same boat from above, facing forward
Study sheet
All the words in one place, by level.
Level 1: The basics
Bow
The front of the boat.
Stern
The back of the boat.
Hull
The body of the boat, the part that floats.
Keel
The heavy fin under the hull. It stops the boat from sliding sideways and keeps it upright.
Rudder
The blade at the back, under the water. Turning it steers the boat.
Mast
The tall pole that holds the sails up.
Boom
The horizontal pole at the bottom of the mainsail. It swings across when you change direction.
Mainsail
The big sail behind the mast. It is the main engine of a sailboat.
Port
The left side of the boat when you face the bow. Its light is red.
Starboard
The right side of the boat when you face the bow. Its light is green.
Level 2: Rigging
Jib
The smaller sail in front of the mast.
Forestay
The wire from the top of the mast to the bow. It holds the mast up from the front, and the jib is attached to it.
Backstay
The wire from the top of the mast to the stern. It holds the mast up from behind.
Shroud
The wires from the mast to the sides of the deck. They hold the mast up from the sides.
Halyard
The rope you pull to raise a sail.
Mainsheet
The rope that pulls the mainsail in or lets it out. Sheet is a rope, not a sail.
Cleat
A small fitting with two horns. You tie a rope off on it.
Winch
A drum with a handle that helps you pull a rope hard.
Level 3: Deck and cockpit
Deck
The top surface of the boat that you walk on.
Cockpit
The open area at the back where the crew sits and steers.
Tiller
The stick you push to turn the rudder. Push it one way and the boat goes the other.
Transom
The flat wall at the very back of the boat.
Hatch
A small door in the deck that you open to go below.
Lifelines
The wires around the edge of the deck. They stop you from falling in.
Anchor
The heavy hook you drop to the seabed to hold the boat in place.