Sail, Sailing and Rigging Terminology QUIZ

1. What is the CENTRE OF EFFORT (CE)?

• The spot close to the centerpoint of the boom where the mainsheet attaches.
• The point on the sail where the force of the wind appears to act.
• The mid-point of a topping lift.
• The centre of gravity of a keel or centreboard.

2. What is WEATHER HELM?

• A special damper added to the helm in rough weather
• A self steering wind vane arrangement used in long trips
• The tendency of a sailboat to want to point into the wind.
• A watch period in which the weather is deteriorating.

3. Where would you find a CLEW?

• The corner of the sail which is at the lower corner downwind from the mast.
• The lower corner nearest to the mast.
• A strong clip like device that secures the outhaul.
• In a Sherlock Holmes novel.

4. What is a YARD?

• Small headsail sometimes set in front of a jib.
• A large batten found at the centre of a sail.
• Short lengths of line specifically kept to secure chafing gear.
• A spar on a mast from which a sail is set.

5. What is a mast's RAKE?

• A implement in old sailing ships that held belaying pins around the base of a mast.
• An implement spanning from the mast to midship, on fishing vessels, that helped keep baited hooks from tangling.
• The front to back angle of a mast.
• A small brass divider which kept lines from tangling.

6. What is the purpose of a TRAVELLER?

• To allow the angle of the sail to be adjusted without having to change the sheet tension or changing the sail shape.
• Measuring the speed of wooden ships. It was part of a floating instrument deployed behind the ships.
• Large line used to modify the angle of a bowsprit. It was connected to the capstan.
• Cart with small wheels which helped aim cannons and reduced the force of recoil.

7. What is a TOPPING LIFT

• A line running from the mast used to support the top of a furler on a jib or genoa.
• Line running from the yard to the mast used to tighten the top of the main sail. There is usually a small block to improve mechanical advantage.
• A line running from the end of the boom to some higher point on the mast used to support the boom.
• A line located on the top of an anchor to help release it when it gets caught on the bottom.

8. What is the CAMBER of a sail?

• Angle of attack
• Fabric used to reinforce its corners
• The Bulge of a sail
• A protective sail cover made from heavy fabric

9. What does DRAFT of a sail refer to?

• Another word for Camber
• The amount of rounding cut in the side of the sail to give it shape.
• Sail Plan
• The angle of the jib or genoa made with the deck of a sailboat.

10. What is a "CHUTE"?

• A small sail used in high winds instead of the normal jib.
• A staysail
• A small protected vent opened to bring air into a cabin during bad weather.
• An informal name for a spinnaker

Keep Going, Complex and Esoteric Questions, the Expert Section.

11. What would you do with a GOLLYWOBBLER?

• Get the Bug Spray ... Fast.
• Hoist it up between 2 masts
• Push it into a leaking through-deck opening quickly before the boat filled with water.
• Give it a glass or rum and hope it does not make trouble

12. What would you do with a CRINGLE?

• Crimp it carefully on two pieces of line to fasten them together.
• Make a hole in canvas with it
• Use it to attach the tiller to rudder
• Put it on the corner of a sail.

13. Where would you expect to find an EUPHROE?

• On a junk Rig
• On a pram style scandinavian dinghy
• On a Bowsprit holding up a staysail
• On a sculling oar

14. Why would you install LAZYJACKS?

• To help in the wind vane tiller assembly
• To gather up a mainsail as it is lowered
• To help lower a small dinghy in the water.
• To maintain tension at the throat of a sail.

15. Of what use is a SNOTTER?

• Keeps the nose of a ship in the wind at anchor
• Gathers up and acts as protective gear for the main sheet block when the boat is not sailing.
• Cloth used to wipe salt stain from the compass
• Tightens the sprit of a spritsail.

16. What is a BAGGYWRINKLE?

• A traditional canvas bag used to hold instruments used during a watch.
• A decorative knotted mat placed under blocks on decks and sometimes used on steps.
• A stretched out and poorly shaped sail.
• Fluffy chafe gear

17. What is LIFT caused by?

• Poor balance between the Center of Effort CE and the Center of Lateral Resistance CLR
• Difference of air (or water) pressures as air rushes over a foil.
• Uncomfortable banging of a light boat going over a steep wave
• The pendulum like movement of some boats when going through downwind waves.

18. What use is a JACKLINE?

• A line set up on which a safety harness is clipped.
• Light weighted line used in docking.
• Line used to lift heavy loads
• Line set up on a bowsprit to control headsails

19. If you are SHUNTING a proa what are you doing?

• Setting a crab claw sail and making ready.
• Avoiding Reefs by lifting the ama
• Doing a normal jibe
• You are moving the rigging in a double ended boat in order to sail in the opposite direction.

20. What are you doing if you are SCANDALIZING a spritsail?

• You are letting go of the main sheet to stop a death roll.
• You are sailing with a loose sprit creating large wrinkles horizontally across the sail
• You releasing the snotter to quickly drop the sprit and reduce sail.
• You are raising the boom against the mast to reduce sail.

Score =

Correct answers: You can resize the window to see more easily.