How to Talk Like a Sailor

Whether you are a local or a visitor to town, it's always wonderful to get out on the water in Newport. But what do you do if you don't know a thing about boating?

Even if you're just along for the ride, it's always good to know a few key terms for both your own safety (i.e. When someone yells "Boom!" you'll want to duck and know why) and to sound slightly knowledgeable about what is going on around you.

There are a few words that are universal on all boats. The bow is the front of the vessel and the stern is the back. When referring to directions, starboard means to the right of the boat and port is to the left side. All boats also have cleats, which are a T-shaped piece of metal used to tie off the dock lines.

On sailboats, two key parts are the mast and the boom. The mast is the tall vertical structure near the center of the boat where you hoist up the sail. The boom is the horizontal beam that is attached to the mast and where the bottom side of the sail rests. The boom tends to be right around head height and it swings fast when the boat tacks (makes a turn heading upwind) or jibes (makes a turn going downwind), so it's always important to be aware of where the boom is and when the boat is going to turn to avoid injury.

The sails are constantly adjusted to take advantage of wind speeds and direction. The lines that are attached to the sails and are used to adjust them are tied off on winches, which are shaped like a spool with the lines wrapped around them several times. 

The primary sail on the boat is the one connected to both the mast and boom. Often when boats are looking to pick up more speed and maximize the area of their sails, they will also put up the spinnaker, typically a very colorful sail, when sailing upwind, or the jib which is used when sailing downwind.

Perhaps the most important thing to know is who is in charge. The person driving the boat is called the skipper on a sailboat or the captain on a motor boat, and anyone else who is working the sails or any other part of the boat is called the crew. When uncertain of what you should do, follow the direction of the skipper or captain. They make the final call.

It takes a lot of time on the water to truly get the hang of everything that maneuvering a boat entails, but it always helps to know the lingo that the skipper or captain and crew are using. And of course, don't forget to enjoy the amazing views of Newport and Jamestown from sea.

If all of this lingo is just a little too much for you, just make sure to bring the best drinks and snacks and you'll surely be invited out on the water again!