Step aboard for the first time and the boat can feel like a puzzle of ropes, poles and unfamiliar words. But a sailboat is beautifully logical once you know the parts of a sailboat and what each one does. This quick, jargon-busting guide walks you around the boat from bow to stern, so you'll feel at home the moment you climb aboard – and understand what the skipper means when they ask you to "ease the sheet".
The hull and the bits underneath
The hull is the body of the boat. Its front is the bow, the back is the stern, the left side (facing forward) is port and the right is starboard. Beneath the hull, the keel is a heavy fin that stops the boat tipping over and helps it sail into the wind, while the rudder – controlled by the wheel or tiller – steers.
The rig: mast, boom and sails
The mast is the tall vertical spar; the boom is the horizontal one at its foot. Between and around them fly the sails: the mainsail behind the mast, and the headsail (jib or genoa) in front of it. The wires holding the mast up are the standing rigging; the ropes that raise and control the sails are the running rigging – halyards hoist the sails, and sheets trim them in and out.
The cockpit and the deck
The cockpit is the outdoor "office" where you steer and trim, home to the wheel (or tiller), the winches (the drums that give you the muscle to pull in a loaded sheet) and the cleats that lock off the lines. Up on deck you'll find the guardrails, the anchor at the bow, and the fenders that protect the hull in harbour.
The names stick fast once you're using them for real. Get hands-on with every part on a skipper training week.
Below deck
Down below, the saloon is the living area, the galley is the kitchen, the heads is the bathroom, and the cabins are the bedrooms. A surprising amount of comfort fits into a modern yacht. Learn a few more terms in our sailing wiki.
Frequently asked questions
What is the keel for?
The keel is a heavy fin under the hull that keeps the boat upright and lets it sail into the wind instead of slipping sideways.
What is the difference between a halyard and a sheet?
A halyard hoists a sail up; a sheet trims it in and out to control its angle to the wind.
What is the cockpit?
The outdoor area where you steer and control the sails, with the wheel, winches and cleats – the hub of life on deck.
Conclusion
Hull, keel and rudder; mast, boom and sails; cockpit, winches and cleats – know these and a sailboat stops being a mystery. Ready to put the names to use? Join a skipper training week.
