| Bearing |
A compass direction from one point to another. |
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| Beating |
Sailing into the wind with the sails pulled in all the way. |
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| Belay |
To secure a rope to a cleat or pin. |
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| Berth |
A bed or bunk aboard a boat. Also a slip or docking space for a boat. |
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| Bilge |
The lowest part of a boat, designed to collect any water that enters the boat. |
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| Boat hook |
A device designed to catch a line when coming alongside a pier or mooring. |
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| Boom |
A horizontal spar extending from the mast to which the foot of a sail is attached. |
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| Boom vang |
A line that adjusts the downward tension on the boom. It usually extends from the boom to near the base of the mast. |
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| Bow |
The forward part of the hull. |
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| Bowsprit |
A spar extending forward from the bow. |
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| Broach |
A turning or swinging of the boat that puts the beam against the waves, creating a danger of swamping or capsize. |
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| Broad reach |
A point of sail where the boat is sailing away from the wind, but not directly downwind. |
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| Bulkhead |
Interior partitions commonly used to stiffen the hull that separates on part of the vessel from another. |
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| Bulwarks |
An extension of the deck to protect against heavy weather. |
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| Buoy |
An anchored float marking a position or for use as a mooring. |
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| By the lee |
Sailing downwind with the wind coming from behind and slightly to the side that the sails are on. |
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| By the wind |
Sailing close-hauled. |