Human, Cultural, Historical and Reference

Recreational Boating, Yachting and Sport glossary

Seafaring undertaken for leisure, sport, and competition: Olympic and dinghy classes, ocean and offshore racing (America’s Cup, Vendee Globe, the Ocean Race, the Rolex Fastnet), the governing bodies (World Sailing, the RYA, US Sailing), recreational-craft types and rigs, cruising and bluewater sailing, and recreational-craft safety and design standards. The branch sustains practical seamanship knowledge and a public constituency for the sea.

260 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 1 of 2).

A

A-Class Catamaran: International one-design beach catamaran for one sailor.
Admiral's Cup: Royal Ocean Racing Club international team-keelboat series, dormant and revived.
America's Cup: Oldest international sailing trophy, contested since 1851.
Annapolis Sailboat Show: Major United States boat show held each October.
Antigua Sailing Week: Caribbean classic regatta held since 1968.
ARC, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers: Annual transatlantic rally from Las Palmas to Saint Lucia.
ASA, American Sailing Association: US dinghy and yacht training certifying body.
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week: Australian offshore regatta.
Auld Mug: Nickname for the America's Cup trophy.
Australian Sailing: National authority for sailing in Australia.

B

B14 Skiff: International high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite.
Beaufort Cup: Cork Week regatta trophy.
Beneteau Group: French production yacht builder, the world's largest by volume.
Bermuda One-Two: Newport-Bermuda double-handed offshore race.
Bigboat Series: Various national big-boat racing circuits.
Bluewater Cruising: Long-distance ocean cruising under sail or power.
Boatswain's Chair: Rigging device used in mast climbing.
Boom: Spar extending the foot of a sail.
Bowsprit: Spar extending forward from the stem for headsails.
British Marine: UK trade association for leisure marine industry.

C

Caribbean 600: RORC offshore race held since 2009.
Catamaran: Twin-hull vessel with high transverse stability.
CE Marking, Recreational Craft Directive: EU conformity mark required for craft sold in the EU.
Cherub, International: One of the oldest skiff classes, originating in Australia.
Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs: Australian offshore race.
Coastal Cruising: Cruising kept within day-sail of shore.
Coastal Skipper Course: RYA qualification course.
Comanche: Maxi-yacht record holder of the line-honors era.
Coronation Cup: Historic sailing trophy.
Cruising Club of America: US offshore sailing club founded 1922.

D

Daggerboard: Retractable centerboard often used in dinghies.
Day Sailer: Small open keelboat or dinghy for daytime sailing.
Daysailer Cup: Common name for one-design regattas.
Dehler Yachts: German production cruiser-racer brand.
Dinghy Sailing: Small-boat sailing in open or decked craft.
Donaldson Trophy: Various sailing trophies of that name.
Dragon Class: International keelboat class designed by Johan Anker in 1929.
Dubai Boat Show: Major Middle Eastern marine industry exhibition.
Dufour Yachts: French production yacht brand.
Dyneema: High-modulus polyethylene running rigging line common in racing yachts.

E

EFG Sailing Arabia: Multi-stage Gulf offshore race.
Eight Metre Class: International Rule keelboat.
Endeavour, J-Class: Sir T. O. M. Sopwith's 1934 America's Cup challenger.
Ericsson Racing Team: Volvo Ocean Race campaign.
Estonia Sailing Federation: National sailing authority.
Etchells: International one-design keelboat designed by Skip Etchells in 1966.
European Championships, World Sailing: Continental titles in Olympic classes.
EUROSAF: European Sailing Federation.
Express 27: One-design sportboat designed by Carl Schumacher.
EYC, Eastern Yacht Club: Marblehead, Massachusetts club founded 1870.

F

Fastnet Race: Biennial 695-mile offshore race organized by RORC since 1925.
Fife, William: Scottish yacht designer of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Figaro 3: French solo offshore one-design replacing the Beneteau Figaro 2.
Finn: Single-handed Olympic dinghy from 1952 to 2020.
Fireball: Two-person planing dinghy class designed by Peter Milne in 1962.
Flying Dutchman: Legendary ghost ship of the Cape of Good Hope.
Flying Fifteen: Uffa Fox-designed two-person keelboat.
Flying Scot: US two-person planing dinghy.
Foiling AC75: America's Cup monohull class from the 2021 edition.
Fox, Uffa: English yacht designer, 1898 to 1972.

G

GBR Sail Numbers: World Sailing national prefix for the United Kingdom.
GBR Sailing Team: Royal Yachting Association high-performance squad.
Genoa: Overlapping headsail used on Bermudian-rigged yachts.
Gold Cup, Star Class: World championship trophy for the Star one-design.
Golden Globe Race: 1968 solo non-stop circumnavigation race revived in 2018.
GP14: Two-person Jack Holt designed dinghy.
Grand Prix Yacht: Top-end custom raceboat above offshore class limits.
GRP, Glass Reinforced Plastic: Standard hull material for production yachts.
Gunwale: Upper edge of the hull at the side.
Gurnard Bay Yacht Club: Generic example of a UK coastal club.

H

Halyard: Line used to hoist a sail or yard.
Hamble River Sailing Club: Solent area sailing club.
Hartley H18: New Zealand trailer-sailer class.
Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta: US-Sailing-supported regional regatta series.
Hempel Sailing World Cup: World Sailing premier Olympic-class circuit.
Hinckley Yachts: US semi-custom yacht builder.
Hobie 16: Mass-produced beach catamaran by Hobart Alter.
Hood Sails: US sailmaker founded 1952.
Hornet Dinghy: British two-person racing dinghy.
Hummingbird Stowable Dinghy: Folding small craft type.

I

IMOCA 60: International Open class for solo and short-handed offshore racing including the Vendee Globe.
Inland Lake Yachting Association: US Great Lakes regional sailing body.
Inshore Series: Coastal racing series at club level.
International Catamaran Challenge Trophy: Original Little America's Cup.
International J/24: Designed by Rod Johnstone in 1977, one of the largest one-design keelboats.
International Optimist: Children's single-handed dinghy, designed by Clark Mills in 1947.
IRC: International offshore rating rule administered by RORC and UNCL.
ISAF Sailor Classification Code: Historical World Sailing categorization of amateur and professional status.
ISO 12217: Standard for stability and buoyancy assessment of small craft.
ISO 8666: Standard for principal data of small craft.

J

J Class: Universal Rule yachts of the America's Cup era 1930 to 1937.
J/105: One-design asymmetric-kite keelboat designed by Rod Johnstone.
J/70: International one-design sportsboat with over 1,500 hulls built.
J/80: International one-design sport keelboat.
Jib: Triangular headsail of a fore-and-aft rig.
Jib Reacher: Headsail trimmed for off-wind sailing.
Jolle, Star Class: German term for the Star one-design.
Jules Verne Trophy: Crewed non-stop fastest circumnavigation prize.
Junior Class Olympics: Generic term for youth one-design championships.
Junior Sailing Programme: Yacht club youth training program.

K

K-Boat, International: K-rule keelboats of the early twentieth century.
Kapas Marang Regatta: Malaysian offshore race.
Keelboat: Vessel with a fixed ballast keel rather than centerboard.
Ketch: Two-masted rig with mizzen forward of the rudder post and shorter than the main.
Kite Sailing: Foiling and traction kite events including the new Olympic kiteboarding class.
Kiteboard, IKA Formula Kite: Olympic class from 2024.
Klepper Folding Kayak: Traditional German folding sea kayak.
Knockabout Sloop: Sloop without a bowsprit.
Kona Windsurfer: Long-distance windsurfer one-design.
Korean Sailing Federation: National authority for sailing.

L

Laser 2000: Two-person trapeze dinghy.
Laser 4.7, ILCA 4: Smaller-rigged ILCA class for younger sailors.
Laser Pico: Entry-level Laser-brand dinghy.
Laser Radial, ILCA 6: Women's Olympic dinghy.
Laser, ILCA Dinghy: Single-handed Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy, Olympic since 1996, now branded ILCA 7.
Leeward Yacht Club: Generic example of recreational sailing club.
Lighthouse Sailing Trophy: Generic example of an inshore series award.
LightWAVE Sail Numbers: Generic national sail-number assignment.
Lipton Cup: International team-racing trophy donated by Sir Thomas Lipton.
Long Beach Race Week: California regional regatta.

M

Maxi Yacht: Race yacht above 60 feet LOA.
Med Mooring: Stern-to anchoring style common in Mediterranean marinas.
Mediterranean Cruising: Popular leisure sailing area.
Melges 24: International high-performance sportsboat by Reichel/Pugh and Melges.
Melges 32: International one-design sportsboat.
Merlin Rocket: Development-class British dinghy.
Mini Transat: Solo transatlantic race in 6.5m Mini class boats.
Mirror Dinghy: 1962 Jack Holt-designed family training dinghy.
Multi70: Class of 70-foot ocean racing trimarans.
Multihull: Catamaran or trimaran vessel type.

N

Nacra 17: Foiling mixed catamaran, Olympic class from 2016.
National Sailing Hall of Fame: US sailing recognition body.
National Yacht Club: Various clubs of that name, including Ireland's at Dun Laoghaire.
Nautical Mile per Hour: One knot, the standard speed unit in sailing.
Nautor Swan: Finnish luxury yacht builder founded 1966.
New York Yacht Club: Founded 1844, holder of the America's Cup until 1983.
Newport Bermuda Race: Biennial 635-mile offshore race since 1906.
Nordic Folkboat: Tord Sunden-designed traditional Scandinavian keelboat.
North Sails: Major sailmaker founded 1957 by Lowell North.
Notice of Race: Document issued by an organizing authority for a regatta.

O

Ocean Race, The: Crewed round-the-world race formerly known as the Volvo and Whitbread.
Offshore Personal Safety Course: World Sailing approved safety training under OSR 6.01.
Offshore Special Regulations (OSR): World Sailing offshore-race safety rules.
OK Dinghy: International single-handed dinghy designed by Knud Olsen.
Olympic Sailing: Sailing has been part of the Olympic program since 1900.
One Design Class: Class governed by tight construction tolerances.
Optimist Dinghy: Bermudan-rigged child's single-hander, world's most numerous racing class.
ORC Club: Simplified handicap of the ORC system.
ORC International: VPP-based offshore handicap rating.
ORC, Offshore Racing Congress: International offshore rating organization based in Cologne.

P

Pacific Cup: San Francisco to Hawaii biennial race.
Pan American Games Sailing: Continental multisport event with sailing classes.
Paralympic Sailing: Sailing was a Paralympic sport in 1996 to 2016.
Pen Duick: Series of yachts associated with Eric Tabarly.
Penalty Turn: Racing penalty under the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing.
Performance Sailing: General term for racing-oriented sailing.
PHRF: Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, US handicap system.
Pinta, Santa Maria, Nina Replicas: Recreational vessels of Columbus' fleet.
Pitman: Crew role in the mid-cockpit of a racing yacht.
Pursuit Race: Race format with staggered starts to finish together.

Q

Q Flag: Yellow signal flag flown on arrival to request pratique, also used by yachts entering foreign ports.
Qatar International Sailing Federation: National authority.
Quarter Tonner: IOR class popular in the 1970s.
Quayside Briefing: Pre-race meeting at regattas.
Queen's Cup: Royal Yacht Squadron trophy presented since 1846.
Quester Yachts: Generic small builder example.
Quik 'n' Easy Sailing Manual: Generic example of beginner reference.
Quiver of Sails: Inventory of headsails and downwind sails.
Quoddy Sailing Centre: Generic example of US community sailing center.
Quokka 8.5: Australian designed sportsboat.

R

Race Officer: World Sailing certified race official.
Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS): World Sailing rulebook updated quadrennially.
RC44: One-design grand prix class designed by Russell Coutts.
Recreational Craft Directive: EU Directive 2013/53/EU regulating recreational craft up to 24 m.
Reeve, Genoa: Pass a line through a block.
Regatta: Sailing competition consisting of races.
Rolex Sydney Hobart: 628-mile Australian offshore race since 1945.
RORC: Royal Ocean Racing Club, founded 1925.
Route du Rhum: French solo transatlantic race held every four years.
RYA: Royal Yachting Association, UK national authority.

S

Sail Number: Class and national identifier on the sail.
Sail Tie: Short line used to secure a furled sail.
Sailing Yacht: Vessel propelled primarily by sail.
Schooner: Two- or more-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel of New England origin.
Sea Scouts: Maritime youth program of the Scouting movement.
Sea Survival Course: World Sailing-approved training under OSR 6.
Singlehanded Sailing: Solo sailing, the basis of races such as Vendee Globe.
Sloop: Single-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one headsail.
Snipe: International two-person one-design dinghy designed by William Crosby in 1931.
Star: Two-person keelboat designed by Francis Sweisguth, Olympic 1932 to 2012.

T

Tall Ship: Large sailing vessel of traditional rig.
Tall Ships' Race: International sail-training fleet race.
Tartan Yachts: US production sailboat builder.
Tasar: Frank Bethwaite-designed two-person racing dinghy.
Team Racing: Sailing format with teams of three or four boats.
Topaz Dinghy: Topper International rotomolded class.
Topper Dinghy: 11-foot plastic single-handed dinghy.
Tornado, International: Olympic catamaran 1976 to 2008.
Transpac: Biennial Los Angeles to Honolulu offshore race since 1906.
Trimaran: Three-hulled vessel type used in offshore racing.

U

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: Volunteer organization with recreational boating focus.
U25 Sailing: Under-25 sailing categories in many championships.
Uffa Fox Trophy: Historic dinghy class trophy.
UK Sailing Academy: Cowes-based training center.
ULDB, Ultra Light Displacement Boat: Sled-style 1980s offshore racer.
United States Sailing Association: US national sailing authority.
Universal Rule: Nathaniel Herreshoff rating rule producing the J Class.
Upper Mark: Windward turning mark in a race course.
Upwind Leg: Beat to windward in a race course.
USCG Recreational Boating Safety: National safety program.

V

Velocity Made Good (VMG): Component of boat speed toward the wind or mark.
Vendee Globe: Solo, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world IMOCA race held every four years.
Vendée-Arctique Race: IMOCA preparatory ocean race.
Vendée-Saint-Pierre: Earlier IMOCA solo event.
Vipers Class: Generic example of multihull sportboat class.
Vivacity 20 Trailer Sailer: 1960s family cruiser.
VMG Calculation: Standard polar-based race-tactic tool.
Volvo Ocean Race: Former name of The Ocean Race.
Volvo Penta Marine Engines: Common recreational marine power.
VPP, Velocity Prediction Program: Software predicting yacht speed at all wind angles and strengths.

W

Wally Yachts: Monegasque high-performance yacht builder.
Wayfarer: Ian Proctor-designed two-person family dinghy.
Whitbread Round the World Race: Original name of the Volvo and Ocean Races.
Windsurf, iQFoil: Foiling Olympic windsurfer from 2024.
Windsurf, RS:X: Olympic windsurfer board 2008 to 2020.
Wing Foil Racing: Emerging discipline within sailing.
Wood Pussy: Vintage one-design catboat.
World Sailing: Sport's international governing body, founded 1907 as IYRU.
World Sailing Speed Record Council: Body certifying outright sailing speed records.
World Sailor of the Year: Annual award by World Sailing.

X

X Pursuit Race: Generic regatta format.
X-35: One-design performance cruiser.
X-99: One-design cruiser-racer designed by Niels Jeppesen.
X-Yacht Owner's Association: Class association.
X-Yachts: Danish production performance cruiser brand.
Xenon Sailing School: Generic example of training school.
Xerox of Crew List: Common notice-of-race requirement.
Xiamen International Boat Show: Chinese marine industry event.
Xocoa Yachting: Generic small builder example.
Xtreme Sailing Series: GC32 catamaran inshore series.

Y

Yacht: Vessel used for pleasure, racing, or charter.
Yacht Club: Membership organization for recreational sailors.
Yacht Master Coastal: RYA professional coastal qualification.
Yachting Australia: Former name of Australian Sailing.
Yachting World: UK monthly magazine, since 1894.
Yachtmaster Ocean: RYA professional ocean qualification.
Yachtmaster Offshore: RYA professional offshore qualification.
Yachts and Yachting: Industry weekly UK magazine.
Yale Cordage: US high-performance rigging line manufacturer.
Yale Sailing Team: Long-established US collegiate sailing program.

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