Sailing terminology – just for fun

[kpgraci]

In sailing there are hundreds of nautical terms that newcomers must learn, but like in all specialized fields there are a number of what I call sarcastic terms - terminology designed to be derogatory in nature. I thought it would be educational and entertaining to compile a list. Here a few I’ve picked up along the way, with my understanding of their meaning.

Clorox Bottle – Any of the thousands of nondescript sailboats whose hull design resembles this.

Marina Racing Stripes – what you get when the fenders are left deployed.

Stinkpotter – a motorboat and/or its operator – particularly an inconsiderate one.

Please add your own, I know there are more…

 

[Sailm8]

Smokers -- PWC from Waterworld. Some times know as #$%#heads

 

[Ross]

Rope trailing over the side with long raveled tail. Irish pennant

 

[BungalowBill]

'Sea Lice' (a.k.a. Kayakers)

Dirt Clumps (a.k.a. Islands )

 

[John Howitt]

speed bumps ( also kayaks)
stick boats (no sails up)

 

[wflowe2]

sailing terminology

When teaching a friend to sail, it was hard to use correct terms because he didn't know them yet. I explained jib sheets and main sheet and that if you are healing past your comfort level you can ease the main sheet. We got hit by a gust and he dumped the main sheet and from then on, I called it the "chicken sheet" and he remembers exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[Ken13559]

that long thingy with red stripe - name of the rode that you know like back of your hands but for the life of you, you couldn't remember it at that moment.

 

[druid]

We got hit by a gust and he dumped the main sheet and from then on, I called it the "chicken sheet" and he remembers exactly what I'm talking about.

Heh - in dinghy sailing, if you don't want to do a gybe (understandable on a Laser!) you can round up and tack, then bear off. This is known as a "chicken gybe" and MUST be accompanied by clucking through the entire manoeuvre.

druid

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

S&*T Chickens-Seagulls
Training Wheels-Fenders left over the side while sailing

 

[Alan]

FNG - the F**kin' New Guy on the crew. usually assigned to the weather rail.

Traditionals - Tall glass of Cptn Morgan & ice w/ a splash of coke. aaarrh!

 

[Ross]

splice the main brace--------- grog for the crew.

 

[Lee Coller]

'Sea Lice' (a.k.a. Kayakers)

Dirt Clumps (a.k.a. Islands )

If Kayakers are "Sea Lice", what are jet skis?

 

[rgranger]

I love Chicken Sheet. I can imagine a Cheech and Chong skit.

Cheech: Hey man you got hold of the chicken sheet.
Chong: No but I got some good sheet man.
Cheech: Man! Which one is the good sheet ?
Chong: It is all good sheet, man.
Cheech: Well which sheet do I want then?:dance:

You can fill in the rest...

 

[gpd955]

We usually throw some fake terms in when we talk with the dock know-it-alls just to see what they do. Like "we were on a beam haul and man were we flying", "I grabbed the halyardsheet and it was fouled. I had to go to the foreaft to fix it.", "it was a steady east-westeast wind.". No one has caught on yet.

 

[higgs]

Stoner's Tack: this is when the person on the helm, in attempting to sail as close to windward as possible,comes through the wind and backwinds the jib thus necessitating a tack.

 

[wflowe2]

Chicken sheet follow-up

Another term that was coined with my friend, the new sailor. He has always had a tendency to head to far up causing the headsail to flog. I would repeatedly tell him that he was pinching too much and finally nicknamed him Doberman (as in Pincher). Now as the sail starts to luff, all I have to say is hey Dobie and he immediately falls off (the wind, not the boat).

 

[Freedom77]

Sailing Terms

Smelling Salts - Sailors who don't take baths
Deck Ape - Usually your first mate, Don't call your wife this or it's crossed legs and cold coffee
Yacht - The way you describe your boat to someone who will likely never see it.
Island Fever - People who buy a twenty foot boat with the misguided notion that they are going to sale from L.A. to Hawaii. Too may Transpac articles.
More to Come. Fair Winds, Old Salt...

 

[ffaubert]

Smelling Salts - Sailors who don't take baths
Deck Ape - Usually your first mate, Don't call your wife this or it's crossed legs and cold coffee
Yacht - The way you describe your boat to someone who will likely never see it.
Island Fever - People who buy a twenty foot boat with the misguided notion that they are going to sale from L.A. to Hawaii. Too may Transpac articles.
More to Come. Fair Winds, Old Salt...

Ok,... that's the best so far!

 

[seaward23]

Plastic Fantastic

In sailing there are hundreds of nautical terms that newcomers must learn, but like in all specialized fields there are a number of what I call sarcastic terms - terminology designed to be derogatory in nature. I thought it would be educational and entertaining to compile a list. Here a few I’ve picked up along the way, with my understanding of their meaning.

Clorox Bottle – Any of the thousands of nondescript sailboats whose hull design resembles this.

In sailing there are hundreds of nautical terms that newcomers must learn, but like in all specialized fields there are a number of what I call sarcastic terms - terminology designed to be derogatory in nature. I thought it would be educational and entertaining to compile a list. Here a few I’ve picked up along the way, with my understanding of their meaning.

Clorox Bottle – Any of the thousands of nondescript sailboats whose hull design resembles this.[quote]

I also think of Clorox bottle as referring to fiberglass boats also. An appropriate synonym would be Tupperware. The material itself was called frozen snot by Herreshoff. Having said all that I owned a fiberglass boat (Seaward 23 by Hake yachts) for 12 years. I loved the boat and would have another anytime.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

If Kayakers are "Sea Lice", what are jet skis?

Killer bees!