A few people asked for a dictionary of nautical terms, so I thoought this would be helpful! Let me know if I need to shorten or lengthen it!

Aft- the stern or rear of a boat

Beam Reach- sailing with the wind coming across the boats widest part. Normally the fastest way of sailing.

Birth- a bed on a boat

Block- a pulley used to make it easier to trim sails

Boat Hook- a pole with a hook on the end used to grab objects out of the water

Boom- a pole attached to the bottom of a forward to aft sail

Bow- the front of the boat

Buoy- a floating object anchored to the ground. Usually used as an aid to navagation.

Cabin- an enclosed room in a boat, used as a bedroom

Channel- a lane dug/dredged in the bottom to allow bigger boats to get through shallow spots without hitting the bottom. Usually near land, marked with red and green markers or buoys.

Chartplotter- an electronic device that puts the location of a ship onto a chart. Also displays data collected from instruments around the boat

Cleat- a stationary device used to secure a rope on a boat or dock

Cockpit- A seating area towards the stern of the boat that houses the rudder controls

Course- the direction a boat is being steered

Dinghy- our dinghy is a small inflatable boat, powered by an electric engine to get to shore from an anchorage. it looks different for different boats

Dodger- a cover over the hatch, used to keep dry and out of the wind

Fender- a flexible bumper used to keep boats from banging into other boats and docks

Fetch- the distance the wind and waves have traveled over the water

Galley- the kitchen in a boat

Halyard- ropes used for raising up a spar or sail

Heel- the lean of the boat caused by the wind's force on the sails

Helm- a ship's steering mechanism such as a tiller of wheel

Jib- a triangular sail at the front of the boat. The foot (bottom) is attached to the bow or bowsprit, while the head (top) is attached to the mast

Knot- a unit of speed = 1 nautical mile per hour

Mast- a vertical pole/spar that suports the sails and/or rigging

Mooring- a place to attach a boat to a fixed bouy or post

Pier- a raised structure used for rectreation and working purposes

Radar- an electronic system made to transmit radio signals and receive them

Reef- to temporarily reduce the area of the sail

Spinnaker- a large sail flown in front of a boat while heading downwind (usually colorful and billowy)

Stern- the rear of the boat