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E Earings - Ropes used to fasten the corners of the heads of sails to the yards, by the cringles. The upper corners of sails are frequently termed earings. Ears of a Bolt - The lugs or upper projections of a bolt with a score in it, into which another part is fitted and held by a through pin so as to form a joint like that of a gooseneck. Ease Away - The order to slacken a rope, &c.; to ease off a sheet, to ease up a sheet, are synonymous terms, and mean to slacken. (See "Check.") Ease the Helm - The order given when sailing against a head sea to ease the weather helm, and by luffing meet the sea bow on, and at the same time deaden the ship's way so that the sea and ship meet less violently. Generally to put the helm amidship, or more amidship after it has been put to port or starboard. Eating a Vessel out of the Wind - When two vessels are sailing in company, and if one soaks or settles out to windward of the other she is said to eat her out of the wind. In reality, to make less leeway. Eating to Windward - A vessel is said to eat to windward when she, apparently, soaks out to windward of her wake. Ebb - A receding current.The receding of the tide. Eddy - Water or currents of air apparently moving in circles. Edge Away - To gradually keep a vessel more off a wind after sailing close hauled. Edge Down on a Vessel - To bear away towards a vessel to leeward, so as to approach her in an oblique direction. End for End - To shift a spar, rope, &c., by reversing the direction of the ends. End On - Said of vessel when she has an object bearing in a line with the keel, directly ahead of the how. On approaching a mark or buoy it is said to be end on if it is directly ahead of the vessel, the bowsprit will then point to the object, hence it is sometimes said that an object is "right on for the bowsprit end." Ensign - A flag flown as a distinguishing mark of nationality. Ensign, Hoisting of - Ensigns and burgees are hoisted every morning at eight o'clock (9 AM from September 30 to March 31), and hauled down at sunset. At sea it is only usual to hoist colours when passing another vessel. Entrance - The fore part of a vessel, the bow. A good entrance into the water means a long well-formed bow. Equipment - The complete outfit of a vessel including everything used in her handling, working, and accommodation. The inventory comprises the equipment.
Esnecca - A kind of yacht of the twelfth century. According to Diez, "Dictionary of the Romance Languages," the word is old French, esneque or esneche, "a sharp prowed ship." Even Keel - Said of a vessel when she is not heeled either to port or starboard, also when her keel is horizontal, that is when she is so trimmed that her draught forward is the same as aft. Every Stitch Set - When all available canvas that will draw is set. Extreme Breadth - The greatest breadth of a vessel from the outside of the plank on one side to the outside of the plank on the other side, wales and doubling planks being included and measured in the breadth. Eye Bolt - See "Bolts." Eyelet Holes - Small holes worked in sails for lacings, &c., to be rove through.
Eyes of Her - The extreme fore end of the ship near the hawse pipes, which are the "eyes of her." Eyes of the Rigging - The loops spliced into the ends of shrouds to go over the mast, and for the rigging screws. Eye Splice - The end of a rope turned in so as to form an eye. F Fair - to make a smoothe finish or curve Fairing a Drawing - A process by which the intersections of curved lines with other lines in the body plan, half-breadth plan, and sheer plan are made to correspond. A fair curve Fairlead - A fitting used to alter the direction of a working line, such as a bullseye, turning block, or anchor chock. When the fall of a rope leads fairly, without obstruction, from the sheave hole. Also a "lead" made for a rope through a sheave hole or through any other hole. Fair Leads - Holes in plank, &c., for ropes to lead through, so that they lead fairly and are not nipped or formed into a bight. Fairway - The ship's course in a channel. The navigable channel of a harbour as distinct from an anchorage in a harbour. A harbour master's duty is to see that the fairway is kept clear, and that no vessels improperly anchor in it. A fair way is generally buoyed. Fair Wind - A wind by which a vessel can proceed on her course without tacking; it may range from close-hauled point to dead aft. Fake, A.-- One of the rings formed in coiling a rope. The folds of a cable when ranged on deck in long close loops. To fake is to arrange in folds. Fall - The loose end of the rope of a tackle, the hauling part of a tackle; also applied generally to the tackle of the bobstay and the topmast backstays. Fall Aboard - One ship sailing or driving into another. A sail is said to fall aboard when the wind is so light that it will not stay blown out. Fall Astern - To drop astern. When two vessels are sailing together, if one fails to keep company with the other by not sailing so fast. Fall Off - To drop away from the wind; when a vessel is hove to she is said to fall off if her head falls to leeward, in opposition to coming to; also when a vessel yaws to windward of her course and then falls off to her course or to leeward of it. Not used in the sense of breaking off, which means when the wind comes more ahead and causes an alteration in the direction of a vessel's head to leeward of a course she had previously been sailing. Fall To - To join in hauling, to commence work. Falling Tide.-- The ebbing tide. False Keel - A piece of timber fitted under the main keel to deepen it or protect it when taking the ground. False Tack - A trick sometimes practised in yacht racing when two vessels are working close hauled together, and one has been "weather bowing" the other every time they went about. To be rid of this attention the crew of the vessel under the lee quarter of the other makes a sudden move as if about to tack; the helm is put down and the vessel shot up in the wind; the other vessel does the same and probably goes on the opposite tack; if she does so the former vessel fills off on her original tack, and the two part company. To shoot up in the wind and fill off on the same tack again. Fashion Timbers - The timbers which form the shape or fashion of the stern. Fast - Made fast by belaying.
Fastenings - The bolts, nails, by which the framing and planking of a vessel are held together. Fathom - Six feet. To fathom a thing is to arrive at the bottom of it, to understand it. Fay, To. - To join pieces of timber together very closely Plank is said to fay the timbers when it fits closely to it. Feather Edge - When a plank or timber tapers to a very thin edge, "tapering to nothing." Feathering - Turning an oar over on its blade as it comes out of the water. Feeling her Way.-- Proceeding by sounding with the hand lead. Feel the Helm - In close hauled sailing when a vessel begins to gripe or carry weather helm. Also generally, when a vessel begins to gather headway so that she can be steered, or 'feel her helm'. Feint - To pretend to tack. (See "False Tack.") Fender - A sort of buffer made of rope, wood, matting, cork, or other material to hang over the side of a vessel when she is about to come into contact with another vessel or object. Fend Off - To ward off the effects of a collision by placing a fender between the vessel and the object which is going to be struck. Fetch - In chose hauled sailing when a vessel arrives at or to windward of any point or object, as "she will fetch that buoy in two more boards" or "she will fetch the mark this tack." Fender - A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage. Fetch Away - To slip or move without intention. To fetch sternway or headway is when a vessel begins to move ahead or astern. Fid - Tool used by riggers in splicing line. A square iron pin used to keep topmasts and bowsprits in their places. Fidded - When the fid has secured the topmast or bowsprit in its proper place. Fiddle Block - A long fiddle-shaped block with one sheave above another. Fiddle Head - The curved part of the knee at the upper fore part of the stem in schooners, turned upwards aft like the curly part of a fiddle head. A scroll head turns downwards. Fill, To -When a vessel has been sailed so close to wind that the sails have shaken, and the helm being put up the sails are "filled" with wind In getting under way after being hove to a vessel is said to fill, or to have been "filled upon." Fillings or Filling Timbers - Pieces of wood or timbers used to fill various spaces that may occur in ship building. Fine - To sail a vessel "fine" is to keep her so chose to the wind that her sails are on the point of shaking; considered sometimes good sailing if done with great watchfulness. Too fine means too near the wind. Fish, To - To strengthen or repair a damaged spar by lashing a batten ore another spar to it. Fisherman's Walk - When there is very little deck room, "Three steps and overboard." Fitted Out - When a vessel is "all-a-taunto,'' which see. A vessel ready to proceed to sea. Fitting Out - Getting a ship's rigging, sails, &c., into place after she has Figure Eight Knot - A knot in the form of a figure eight, placed in the end of a line to prevent the line from passing through a grommet or a block. Flags - Pieces of bunting of various forms, colors, and devices, such as ensigns, jacks, burgees. Flare - The outward curve of a vessel's sides near the bow. To project outwards, contrary to tumbling home. A distress signal.
Flat Aback - In square rigged ships when all the yards are trimmed across the ship, with the wind ahead so as to produce sternway. Flat Aft - When sheets are trimmed in as chose as the vessel will bear fore close hauled sailing. Flat Floored - When the bottom timbers ore floors of a vessel project from the keel in a more or less horizontal direction. Flatten in Sheets - To haul in the sheets. Fleet, To - To overhaul a tackle or separate the blocks after they have been hauled close together. Floating Anchor - Although floating anchors are continually referred to in old writings as a means whereby many ships have been enabled to ride out very heavy gales in comparative ease, we seldom hear of their being used now, except in yachts. No doubt many a ship has been lost through getting broadside on to the sea, whereas they might have kept bowing the sea by such a simple contrivance as a floating anchor. However, masters, it would seem, prefer to heave-to, as they like to keep their vessels under command. In a very heavy sea and gale a floating anchor may be of very great service, and no doubt if a vessel can be kept bow to the sea, she will feel the violence of it in a much less degree than she would if hove-to, when she might be continually flying-to against the sea after falling off. (See also Oil On Troubled Waters in the addendum) Flood - A incoming current. Flood Tide - The rising tide, contrary to ebb. Floors - The bottom timbers of a vessel. Flotsam - The cargo of a wreck that may be floating about or liberated from the wreck. Flowing Sheet - In sailing free, when the sheets are eased up or slackened off. Flowing Tide - The rising tide, the flood tide. Fluid Compass - (definition from around 1910) A compass card in a basin of fluid, usually spirit (alcohol), used in rough weather because the card should not jump about. In a small yacht a good and steady compass is an essential part of the outfit, and if there be any sea on the usual compass card and bowl are perfectly useless to steer by. The fluid compass then becomes necessary, and frequently a "life boat" compass, which costs about 5£, is used. A more yacht-like looking liquid compass, however, is one sold by most yacht fitters, price about 6£ 6s., shown by Fig. 41. The extreme height is only 1ft. 2in., and the card remains steady under the most trying circumstances of pitching and rolling. Spirit is usually used in the compass bowl in the proportion of one-fourth to three-fourths water; or glycerine in the same proportion; or distilled water can be used alone. A grain of thymol is said to prevent the spirit, &c,. turning brown. (See "Binnacle and Compass.") Fluke - The palm of an anchor or barb-shaped extremities of the arms of an anchor. Flush deck - When the deck has no raised or sunken part. Fly - The part of a flag which blows out; the opposite side to the hoist; the halyards are bent to the hoist. Flying Jib - A jib set in vessels on the flying jib boom. There is then the jib, the outer jib, and flying jib, or inner jib, jib, and flying jib; probably called flying jib because unlike the others it is not set on a stay. A yacht's jib topsail is sometimes termed a "flying jib " but, being set on a stay, this is incorrect. To put this older definition in current terms: On a ship with fully rigged bowspirt and jibboom the sails named from fore to aft are flying jib, outer jib, inner jib and staysail. Flying Light - Said of a vessel when she has been lightened in ballast so as to float with her proper load-line out of water. Flying Start - In match sailing a start made under way. In the old days yachts started from anchor or from moorings. This practice has long since been abandoned, and all starts in yacht races are flying starts. Flying To - When a vessel, in sailing free, luffs suddenly, or comes to suddenly; also after tacking, if a vessel's head is kept much off the wind, and the helm be put amidships, the vessel will fly to, i.e. fly to the wind quickly. A vessel that carries a hard weather helm will fly to directly the tiller is released. Fly up in the Wind - When a vessel is allowed to come head to wind suddenly. Fo'c'sle - An abbreviation of forecastle. Refers to that portion of the cabin which is farthest forward. In square-riggers often used as quarters for the crew. In the early days of sail a castle like structure was built on the fore and aft ends of the hull and used as fighting platforms with the midships area reserved for rigging and sails. Following Sea - An overtaking sea that comes from astern. Foot - For a triangular sail, the bottom edge. Fore And Aft - In a line parallel to the keel. Fore & Aft Rig - The fore and aft rig, or schooner rig, required only a small crew, and was generally used in the coastal and fishing trades. Ships with this rig could point higher into the wind and were usually more maneuverable when working in the changing winds along the coast. The rig was not limited to coastal schooners, and big fore-and-afters could be seen plying across Fore-body - The fore part of a ship which is forward of the greatest transverse section.
Fore Deck - The deck before the mast. Fore Foot - The foremost part of the keel at its intersection with the stem under water. Fore Guy - The stay of a square sail boom or spinnaker boom which leads forward. Foremast - Vertical spar or mast most foreward Forepeak - The compartment farthest forward in the bow of the boat. Often used for anchor or sail stowage. In larger ships the crews quarters Fore-rake - The rake the stem has forward beyond a perpendicular dropped to the fore end of the keel. Fore-reach - When one vessel reaches past or sails past another; generally applied in close hauled sailing. Thus it is frequently said that one vessel "fore-reaches but does not hold so good a wind as the other" ; meaning that she passes through the water faster but does not or cannot keep so close to the wind. Foresail - In square rigged ships the large lower sail set on the foremast; in cutters the triangular sail or jib foresail set on the forestay; in fore-and-aft schooners the gaff sail set abaft the foremast. Foresheet - The sheet of the foresail. Foresheet horse - An iron bar for the foresheet to work upon. Fore-staysail - The jib foresail set on the forestay of schooners; properly "stay-foresail." Forestay - Wire support for the mast, running from the bowsprit or foredeck to a point at or near the top of the mast. Fore-topman - In a schooner yacht a man stationed aloft to work the fore-topsail tack and sheet in going about. Foretopmast - The topmast over the foremast. Foreyard - The yard on the foremast for setting the foresail in square-rigged ships. Forge Ahead - When a vessel that is hove to gathers way; generally when a vessel moves past another. Foretriangle - The triangle formed by the forestay, mast, and fore deck. Forward - Toward the bow of the boat. Foul - Entangled, not clear. To touch another yacht. Fouled - Any piece of equipment that is jammed or entangled, or dirtied. Foul Anchor - When an anchor gets a turn of the cable round its arms or stock; when imbedded among rocks, so that it cannot be readily recovered. Also a pictorial anchor with a cable round the shank. Foul Berth - When two vessels which are anchored or moored have not room to swing without fouling each other. If a vessel is properly moored and another fouls her berth she is held liable for any damage which may ensue. Foul Bottom - A rocky bottom; also the bottom of a ship when it is covered with weeds. Foul Hawse - When moored if the cables get crossed by the vessel swinging with the tide. Fractional Rig - A design in which the forestay does not go to the very top of the mast, but instead to a point 3/4~ 7/8ths, etc., of the way up the mast. Frames - The timbers or ribs that form the shape of the hull Frapping - A rope put round the parts of a tackle or other ropes which are some distance apart, to draw them together and increase their tension or prevent them overhauling. Frequently a frapping is put on the parts of the head sheets, especially on the jib topsail sheet, to draw them down to the rail, and thus bring a strain on the leech and foot. When two spars are formed into sheer legs the line is wrapped around them in an over and under fashion three times then frapped in circular fashion two times giving rise to the phrase "Wrap thrice and Frap twice." Frapping a Ship - Passing a chain cable or hawser round the hull of a ship to keep her from falling to pieces when she is straining in a heavy sea. Formerly common with timber ships. Free - Not close hauled. When a vessel is sailing with a point or two to come and go upon. The wind is said to free a vessel when it enables her to check sheets so as to be no longer close hauled. Also when it enables a vessel that is close hauled to lie nearer her course, as "the wind frees her." Freeboard - The distance between the deck and the waterline. Most often it will vary along the length of the boat Freshen - To alter the strain upon a rope. Freshen Hawse - To veer out or heave cable, so that a different part will take the chafe of the hawse pipe. Freshen the Nip - To shift a rope or line so that its nip, or short turn, or bight, may come in another part. In slang, to quench a desire for drink. Full - When all the sails are filled with the wind and quite steady. Full Aft - When a vessel is said not to taper sufficiently aft. Full and Bye - Sailing by the wind or close hauled, yet at the same time keeping all the sails full so that they do not shake through being too close to wind. Generally a vessel does better to windward when kept a" good full and bye" than when nipped or starved of wind. Full and Change - Phases of the moon. Full Bowed - The same as bluff bowed. Full Rigged Ship - square rigged on all masts. Staysails could be set between the masts. Outboard of the square sails might be set studdingsails, and above the royals (uppermost sails) might be set sails with such names as skysail, moonraker, Trust to God, or Angel Whispers. Furl - To roll a sail up on a yard, etc. Futtocks - The timbers which abut above the floors called first, second, and third futtocks. This should properly be written foothooks. G Gaff - a free swinging spar attached to the top edge of a sailto which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent Gaff Topsail - The topsail set over a gaff sail, such as the topsail set over a cutter's mainsail. Sometimes the sail has a head yard, and sometimes not. Galley - A long narrow rowing boat propelled by six or eight oars. A boat a little longer and heavier than a yacht's gig. The kitchen of a vessel. Gallows - Frames of oak erected above the dock in ships to carry spare spars on or the spanker boom instead of a crutch. Gammon Iron - An iron hoop fitted to the side of the stem, or on top of the stem, as a span-shackle, to receive and hold the bowsprit. Gammoning - The lashings which secure the bowsprit to the stem piece, and are passed backward and forwards in the form of an X, over the bowsprit. Now generally chain is used. In yachts, an iron band or hoop, called the gammon iron or span-shackle, is fitted to the stem, through which the bowsprit passes. Gangway - The area of a ship's side where people board and disembark. The opening in the bulwarks, or side, through which persons enter or leave a vessel. Used generally as a passage, or thoroughfare of any kind. "Don't block the gangway," is a common admonition to thoughtless people who stand about in passages or thoroughfares, to the impediment of passers. Gangway Ladder - The steps hung from the gangway outside the vessel. Sometimes there is also a board, or kind of platform, called the "Gangway Board."
Gangplank, Gangway Board - The platform used to connect the Gangway to the adjacent shore, pier, dock, or another vessel's gangway if moored alongside. Gant-line - A whip purchase; a single block with a rope rove through it. A gant-line is used to hoist the rigging to the masthead on beginning to fit out. Garboard - Used in conjunction with strake. Refers to the planks, or strakes, on either side of and adjacent to the keel.he strake of plank next above the keel into which it is rabbeted and bolted. Garland - A strop put round spars when they are hoisted on board. Garnet - A kind of tackle used for hoisting things out of the hold of vessels; also used for clewing up square sails. Gaskets - Pieces of rope, sometimes plaited, by which sails when furled are kept to the yards. The pieces of rope by which sails are secured when furled, such as the tyers of the mainsail, by which that sail, when rolled up on the boom, is secured. Gather Way - When a vessel begins to move through the water, under the influence of the wind on her sails, or under the influence of steam. Give-Way Vessel - A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations. Give Way Together - Command used by Coxswain in larger rowing boats which tells the rowers on both sides to begin rowing together. Get a Pull - To hand on a sheet or tack or fall of a tackle. Getting Soundings Aboard.-- Running aground. Gig - A long boat of four or six oars kept for the owner of a yacht. Gilling - To gill a vessel along is to sail her very near the wind, so that very little of the weight of the wind is felt on the sails which are kept lifting and only have steerage way kept an the vessel. A vessel is generally "gilled " (pronounced "jilled") through heavy squalls or very broken water. Gimbals - The cross axles by which compasses, lamps, stoves and the like are swung on board ship. Often called "double gimbals" if they allow swing in both directions. Girt - To moor a vessel so that she cannot swing by tide or wind. To draw a sail into puckers; to divide the belly of a sail into bags as by a rope. Girt-line - (See "Gant-line.") Girth - The measurement round the vessel. The girth is generally measured at a station 0.55 from the fore end of the L.W.L. It is taken in two separate ways--i.e., by skin or by chain. The skin girth is taken by following the skin surface of the plank or body right round under the keel, from gunwale to gun. wale. The chain girth is taken at the same place and between the same points with the string, tape, or chain pulled taut. The difference between the two girths is called the "d" measurement. (See also "d.") Give Her - A general prefix to an order, as "Give her sheet";" Give her the jibheaded topsail;" "Give her chain," &c. Give Her the Weight of It - An admonition to a helmsman to sail a vessel a good heavy full when close-hauled. Give Way - The order to a boat's crew to commence rowing or to pull with more force or more quickly. May be Give Way Together, Give Way Starboard or Give Way Port denoting which banks of oars. Used in conjunction with other commands given by the Coxswain; e.g. If the boat is starboard side alongside the ship a command may be, "Fend Off Starboard to gain distance from the ship's hull then "Backwater Port, GiveWay Starboard" to effect a turn followed by "Give Way Together". Giving the Keel - Heeling over suddenly and bringing the keel near the surface; vessels that are not very stiff under canvas are said to "give the keel." Glass - The term by which a sailor knows the barometer. Also a telescope, and the sand glass used to denote half-hours on board ship, or the half-minute or quarter-minute glass used when heaving the log. Glass Calm - When it is so calm that the sea looks like a sheet of glass.
Go About - To tack. Go Ahead ! - The order to the engineer of a steam vessel. Also "Go astern;" "Easy ahead;" "Easy astern;" "Stop her!" Go Down - To sink. To go down below. Going Large - The same as sailing with the wind free. Going Through Her Lee - When one vessel overtakes and passes another vessel to leeward; considered to be a very smart thing for a vessel to do if they are close together and of equal size. Gollywobbler - A full, quadrilateral sail used in light air on schooners. It is flown high, between the fore and main mast, and is also known as a fisherman's staysail. Good Full- Same as "Clean Full," or little fuller than "Full and By." Gooseneck - The fitting that connects the boom to the mast.An iron jointed bolt used to fix the end of booms to the mast. Goose Wing, To - A schooner "goose wings" when dead before the wind by booming out the gaff foresail on the opposite side to the mainsail. An uncertain operation, and a practice not now in much use, as the introduction of spinnakers has made it unnecessary. (See "Wing and Wing.") Goose Wings - The lower part or clews of sails when the upper part is furled or brailed up; used for scudding in heavy weather. Grab Rails - Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat. Ground Tackle - A collective term for the anchor and its associated gear. Graduated Sail - A sail whose cloths taper towards the head from the foot upwards; so that a whole cloth forms the luff as well as the leech Granny Knot - An insecure knot which a seaman never ties, but which a landsman is sometimes seen to do when trying his hand at reef (square)knots. Grapnel - A grappling iron with four claws used to moor small boats by or to drag the bed of the sea. Gratings - Open woodwork put in the bottom of boats, in gangways. Graving - Cleaning a vessel's bottom. Graving Dock - A dock which can be emptied of water by opening the gates as the tide falls, and its return prevented as the tide rises by closing the gates. Used for clearing the bottoms of vessels, repairing the same. Gravity - Weight. The centre of gravity is the common centre of a weight or weights. In sailing ships the Center of Gravity is the balance point of the ship between the bow and stern, port and starboard rail at the widest breadth of the ship and the keel and mast top. Also the balance point between the Center of Effort and the Center of Lateral Resistance. Great Guns - A heavy wind is said to "blow great guns." Green Hand - A landsman shipped on board a vessel, and who has yet to learn his duties. Green Horn - A conceited simpleton, incapable of learning the duties of a seaman. Green Sea - The unbroken mass of water that will sometimes break on board a vessel as distinct from the mere bucketfulls of water or spray that may fly over her. Such bodies of water always have a green appearance, while smaller quantities look grey, hence, we suppose, the term. Also the portion of the ocean which is life bearing as opposed to blue water which is the pelagic version of a desert. Gridiron - A large cross framing over which a vessel is placed at high water in order that her bottom may be examined as the tide falls. Grin - A vessel is said to grin when she dives head and shoulders into a sea and comes up streaming with water. Gripe - The fore part of the dead wood of a vessel; the forefoot. Gripe, To - A vessel is said to gripe when she has a tendency to fly up in the wind, and requires weather helm to check or "pay off" the tendency.
Grommet or Grummet - A ring formed of a single strand of rope laid over three times. Used for strops. Grounding - The act of getting aground or taking the ground as the tide falls. Ground Sea, Ground Swell - The swell that may be seen along shore sometimes, whilst in the offing the sea is calm. Ground Tackle - The moorings, anchors, chains, used in securing a vessel. Ground Ways - The blocks on which a vessel is supported whilst she is being built. Gudgeons - Metal eye bolts fitted to the stern post to receive the pintles of the rudder. Gunter Rig - Similar to a gaff rig, except that the spar forming the "gaff" is hoisted to an almost vertical position, extending well above the mast. Sliding Gunter- Not to be confounded with the modern gunter lug which is really a cross between a high-peaked gaff sail and a Clyde lug. The slider has jaws on the heel of the yard or gaff, which is usually curved. Either one or two halyards are used. Gunwale - Most generally, the upper edge of the side of a boat. In small boats the timber which fits over the timber heads, and is fastened to the top strake. (See "Inwale.") Gunwale Under - Heeling until the lee gunwale is in the water. Guy - A rope used to steady or support a spar. A line used to control the end of a spar. A spinnaker pole, for example, has one end attached to the mast, while the free end is moved back and forth with a guy. Gybing (also spelt jibing) - To keep a vessel so much off the wind that at last it blows on the opposite quarter and causes the sails to shift over. The opposite of tacking, which is to come to the wind until it blows on the opposite bow of the vessel to the one on which it has been blowing. Gyvers.-- Tackles. |
