Sailing Language
by T
he language of the sea is deeply rooted in the era of square-rigged
ships, and today sailors around the world use a kind of shorthand
that has evolved from that period. We were reminded of the im-
portance of sailing language when we raced our 54-footer with crew from
various countries. We could all communicate easily during those races—
even though we didn’t share a common tongue.
Sailor-talk
To the uninitiated, sailor-talk may sound strange. But it’s an essential
language to learn. There are times on a boat when the correct action must be
taken quickly and at the right moment, or problems will result. You can’t afford
Image via Wikipedia
to say, “Let go of that thing over there!” when you really mean, “Free
the jibsheet!” Through repetition,
you will learn the necessary sailing
terms to help you sail well.
Many types of sailboats
Although there are many types
and sizes of sailboats, the Colgate 26 is characterized as a sloop-rigged keelboat. The word sloop refers to a boat with one mast; the keel is a
heavy fixed fin beneath the boat that provides stability. What you learn on this
boat can be applied to any sailboat.
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