Defining the terms

Press, 12 January 1987, Page 22

Defining the terms

When Chris Dickson and his 10 Antipodean adventurers meet the whining San Francisco draper, Dennis Conner, in the first race in the Challengers final off Fremantle tomorrow night, many readers will still be puzzled by the strange jargon that is a part of yachting. On this page we provide some definitions of sailing terms, and sketches, in an endeavour to explain some of the more complicated tactics and terms associated with America’s Cup racing. ABEAM: At right angles to the fore and aft line of the opposition boat BEAR AWAY: Turning away from the wind. BEATING: Sailing towards the wind’s direction. BLANKET COVER: Covering an opponent by taking the windward position, forcing him into foul wind and slowing his progress. CLEAR AHEAD OR ASTERN: When there is no overlap between the two boats. CLOSE-HAULED: When the sails are pulled in close to the mast usually when the yacht is sailing

into the wind. CLOSE-UP: Turning into the wind. DOWNWIND LEG: The leg running from the windward to the leeward marks. FOUL WIND: Turbulent air that comes from the back of a sail. GOING ABOUT: Changing direction when the yacht is travelling into the wind. GYBE: Changing direction while sailing downwind when the rear of the yacht passes through the eye of the wind. HALYARD: Wire running up the mast, used for lifting the sails up and down. JIB, GENOA OR HEADSAIL: All front sails, they are coded by size. The greater the wind strength the smaller the headsail. LAY LINE: The theoretical course by which a yacht could sail directly to, or “lay,” the next mark on the course. LEEWARD: The direction to which the wind is blowing. LIFT: A gust of wind which allows the yacht to “lift up” to the direction of the wind when it is

sailing upwind. LUFF: Mostly a starting manoeuvre when the leeward boat pushes his opponent into the eye of the wind to stop him or force him in the opposite direction. Also the name of the leading edge of the sails. MAINSAIL: The large sail behind the mast and along the boom. REACHING: When the yacht sails across the direction of the wind. SLAM DUNK: When a yacht crosses just in front of the other, and tacks immediately to take a position between the opposition and the top mark. SHEET: It is in fact a rope, tied at one end to a sail and at the other end to a winch and is used to pull in a saiL TACKING DUEL: Two boats crossing frequently on a windward leg in an endeavour to gain an advantage before the windward mark. WINDWARD: The direction the wind is blowing from. WING MARK: The mark at the tip of the triangle on the reaching legs.