Place where a boat can safely drop anchor

mouillage

Cable at the back of the mast stabilizing it fore-and-aft

pataras

Heavy weight placed in the keel or hull to improve a boat's stability

ballast

Flexible or rigid inserts in a sail used to maintain shape and improve the sail's profile

lattes

The maximum width of a sailboat measured at its widest point

maître bau

To change a sailboat's heading by turning the bow away from the wind, i.e., to head downwind

abattre

Angle measured between true or magnetic north and the direction of an observed object from the boat

relèvement

Scale used to estimate wind strength based on observable effects at sea, called the Beaufort scale

beaufort

Canvas cover placed over part of the boat, such as the cockpit, for protection

taud

A strong mooring post used to secure docking lines

bitte

The horizontal spar attached to the foot of the mainsail used to control sail trim

bôme

The front part of a boat or ship

proue

A weighted fin at the bottom of a keel used to increase a sailboat's stability

bulbe

A floating or fixed navigation mark used to indicate hazards, channels, or recommended routes

balise

Small lightweight inflatable boat, often used as a tender or for coastal excursions

zodiac

Absence of wind, a situation where the sail can no longer fill

pétole

A twin-hulled boat offering high stability and performance

catamaran

A fixed or retractable underwater foil used to reduce sideways drift and improve upwind performance

dérive

Fitting on which a line is secured to keep it taut or fastened

taquet

Sailing angle as close as possible to the wind to maximize upwind progress

près

Sailing along the coast from port to port while remaining close to shore

cabotage

To tip over or overturn, mainly used in dinghy sailing

dessaler

To arrange a line into regular coils for storage or preparing for a maneuver

lover

Maximum height of a boat above water, up to the top of the mast or superstructure

tirant d'air

The upper horizontal surface of a boat where people can walk and work

pont

All deck equipment used to handle sails and running rigging, such as winches, clutches, cleats, blocks, and tracks

accastillage

Called the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) by meteorologists, it is an area where warm and humid air masses from the tropics converge, carried by the trade winds. In this zone, wind strength is highly unstable, with sudden gusts following long periods of calm without warning, making sailing difficult

pot au noir

Vertical distance between the waterline and the lowest point of a boat's hull, limiting passage in shallow waters

tirant d'eau

To bring a boat alongside a dock or pontoon in order to secure it

accoster

To quickly lower a sail by easing the halyard

affaler

To loosen a sheet or line to reduce tension and open the sail

choquer

Rubber or foam protection placed between the boat and dock to prevent impact damage

pare-battage

Hull wider at the waterline than at the deck

frégate

Describes a sail that flutters or flaps in the wind, not drawing properly

faseyer

Front cable supporting the mast forward and holding the jib or genoa

étai

Asymmetric foresail, between the jib and spinnaker, used on a reach or downwind

gennaker

Large foresail overlapping the mast, bigger than a standard jib

génois

Long pole with a hook, used to catch a line or buoy and assist in boat handling

gaffe

A line used to hoist and lower a sail or flag

drisse

The leaning of a sailboat to one side due to wind pressure

gîte

The steering system used to control a boat's direction, consisting of a tiller or a wheel

barre

The person responsible for steering the boat

barreur

Action of the crew leaning to windward, often outside the boat on the trapeze, to increase righting moment and reduce heel

rappel

The main body of a boat that provides buoyancy and supports the entire structure

coque

A lifting surface under the hull or float of a boat that raises it out of the water to reduce drag

foil

To pull on a line to maneuver a sail or an object

haler

To change a sailboat's heading by turning the bow toward the wind, i.e., to head upwind

lofer

To raise a sail or flag by pulling on the halyard

hisser

Class of 60-foot single-hull racing sailboats designed for offshore competitions such as the Vendée Globe

IMOCA

A triangular foresail set between the mast and the bow, used to steer the boat and balance the sail plan

foc

To change tack by turning the stern through the wind

empanner

Longitudinal underwater part of a sailboat, used to stabilize the boat and reduce sideways drift

quille

Water sport where the rider glides on a board while being pulled by a hand-controlled inflatable kite

kitesurf

Unit of speed in navigation equal to one nautical mile per hour

noeud

A heavy rope used to secure a boat to a dock or pontoon

aussière

The system of lifelines and stanchions forming a safety guardrail around the deck

bastingage

A rope or line used on a boat for mooring, hoisting, adjusting sails, or handling various parts of the vessel

bout

A vertical pole on a sailing vessel used to support sails, rigging, and equipment

mât

Boat with a single hull, as opposed to multihulls

monocoque

A heavy block fixed to the seabed used as a permanent mooring point for a boat

corps mort

Line used for mooring or hoisting loads

touline

Unit of distance used in navigation, equivalent to 1 852 meters

mille nautique

A visible shore reference used to determine position or check alignments in coastal sailing

amer

To drive the bow into a wave, usually at high speed or on downwind courses

enfourner

International association that governs the ORMA offshore racing multihull class and organizes ocean competitions such as the Route du Rhum

ORMA (Association)

Class of offshore racing multihulls (trimarans) used in ocean competitions such as the Route du Rhum

ORMA (Classe)

Longitudinal oscillatory movement of a boat, bow and stern alternately rising and falling

tangage

Refers to the left side of a boat when facing forward

bâbord

An opening in the hull or superstructure allowing light and a view outside

hublot

Traditional multihull sailing vessel originating from Oceania, featuring a main hull and a lateral float

prao

Supplying a boat with water, fuel, food, and equipment before sailing or racing

avitaillement

To oscillate fore and aft under the effect of waves

tanguer

Sailing angle where the wind comes from behind at roughly 135° relative to the boat's axis

largue

Shortest route between two points on the Earth's surface, following a circular arc

orthodromie

Official measurement of a sailboat expressed in tonnage, used to determine its class or handicap in racing

jauge

Part of a sail that is reduced or folded to decrease its surface area and adapt to strong winds

ris

Lateral oscillatory motion of a boat around its longitudinal axis

roulis

Solo transatlantic offshore sailing race from Saint-Malo (France) to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe)

Route du Rhum

Submerged steering part used to control the boat

safran

Difference in height between high tide and low tide

marnage

To reduce sail area by taking in a reef to maintain control in strong wind

ariser

The boat's position relative to the wind (close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, running)

allure

A fabric surface used to catch the wind and propel a sailing vessel

voile

A line used to control the angle and tension of a sail

écoute

Vertical or angled cables supporting the mast sideways, as opposed to the backstay and forestay

haubans

Person responsible for navigation and crew management aboard a boat

skipper

Instrument or measurement of water depth beneath the boat

sonde

A long rigid rigging element used to support or control sails (mast, boom, spinnaker pole)

espar

A lightweight triangular sail mainly used when sailing downwind

spi

Horizontal spar used to extend and control the spinnaker or gennaker

tangon

Refers to the right side of a boat when facing forward

tribord

The front part of a boat or ship

étrave

The rear part of a boat or ship

poupe

Assembly of pulleys used to multiply force to haul a line or handle a heavy sail

palan

The side from which the wind is coming (port tack or starboard tack)

amure

Articulated extension or tube attached to the tiller allowing steering from a displaced position for better comfort and responsiveness

stick

To sail a boat in a zigzag pattern to make progress upwind

louvoyer

Measurement of a boat's volume or capacity, often used for rating or classification

tonnage

Strap or harness allowing a crew member to hang outside the boat to increase righting moment

trapèze

To tighten a sheet or control line in order to adjust a sail

border

Unidentified Floating Object used in racing or navigation to refer to any unknown floating object encountered at sea

ofni

Describes a wind shift that becomes more favorable to the boat's course or point of sail

adonner

Describes wind shifting from aft toward the bow relative to the boat, making upwind progress harder

refuser

Trace left on the water surface by a moving boat

sillage

Mechanical device used to raise the anchor and mooring lines

guindeau

Located on the side from which the wind is blowing, opposite of leeward

au vent

World Sailing Speed Record Council, the organization responsible for ratifying sailing speed records and other international nautical performance records

WSSRC

Rotating mechanical device used to tension or ease a line under heavy load

winch

Habitable pleasure craft, sail- or motor-powered, used for recreation or cruising, generally regarded as a yacht from about 33 ft in length

yacht