Definitions - Sailboat Parts

Stays - Stays run fore and aft. The forward stay is called the forestay! It is often erroneously referred
to as the jib stay, or the headstay.

Shrouds Often erroneously referred to as side stays. These lines/wires support the mast sideways.

Sheets - These are the lines that trim the sails. The line to the jib is the jib sheet, and the line to the main
is the mainsheet.

Outhauls - These are lines attached to the clew (lower, rear corner) of each sail. Generally there are two
lines attached to each clew on each sail. The aft one is the outhaul, the other is a leech tension
line. Outhauls are attached on the respective booms

Halyards - In models we don't actually have running halyards per se, but we have relatively static
attachments that hold the sails up. These lines are attached to the top (head) of each sail.

Rake - Rake is a term used to indicate the lean of the mast fore and aft. Not to be mistaken with mast
bend.

Twist - If you look up the leach (trailing edge) of each sail, twist is the curve from side to side.

Slot - When sailing to windward (into the wind), slot is the amount of space the wind has to pass
through between the jib and main.

Balance - For the purposes of this article, balance refers to how well the boat self steers. A perfectly
balanced boat has a small, but noticeable, demand to turn into the wind if the steering is left
neutral.

Weather Helm is the tendency of the boat to turn into the wind - actually the amount of weather helm is
measured in the amount of effort put into holding the boat in a straight line. If you are turning
your rudder too much to prevent the boat from turning into the wind, the rudder is causing
unnecessary drag slowing the boat down.

Draft - In this tuning article, draft is the amount of belly placed in the sails by moving the outhaul
connection to the boom forward (not the amount of water that your boat needs to keep from
running aground).

Boom Vang - When the wind strikes the sail, the boom wants to rise, allowing the sail to twist out of shape.
The jib pivot attachment provides a cantilever effect to keep the rear end of the jib boom from
rising but the mainsail needs a physical line connected to the boom and the bottom of the mast,
this is the boom vang.

(see next page for illustration)


Anatomy of a Sailboat