Sailing Terms

Port - The left side when facing the bow.
Starboard - The right side when facing the bow.
Windward - The direction from which the wind is coming.
Leeward - The direction in which the wind is going.
Amidships - the mid point of the boat between bow and stern, or from side to side.
Abeam - A direction to either side of the boat at right angles to line from bow to stern.
Ahead - in front of the boat.
Tacking - Turning from one tack to the other, when the bow passes through the wind. Also know as Coming about.
Port tack - when a boat is sailing with the mainsail on the starboard side.
Starboard tack - when a boat is sailing with the mainsail on the port side.
Gybing - Going from one tack to the other with the stern passing through the wind.
Underway - when the boat is not moored, anchored or aground. It is floating free from the earth.
Leeway - the motion of the boat to leeward.
No way - when the boat is not moving.
In irons - when the boat bow into the wind without control and starts to move backwards.
Upwind - In the direction from which the wind is coming.
Downwind - In the direction the wind is going.
Luffing - when the forward part (the luff) of a sail is fluttering.
Heading up - turning towards the wind.
Bearing away - turning away from the wind.
Sailing by the lee - sailing with the wind and the boom on the same side while sailing downwind.
Heeling - The leaning of the boat due to the wind pressure on the sails.
Astern - behind the boat.

Small Boat Sailing Instruction