Starboard toward the V-BerthPort toward the V-BerthBow – The forward part of a boat. Stern – The rear part of a boat. Port – The left side of a boat when seen by someone facing the bow. Starboard- The right side of a boat when seen by someone facing the bow. Forward – At, toward or near the bow of a vessel. Aft – Near, toward or at the stern of a ship. Draft – The vertical distance between the waterline and the deepest part of the keel, usually expressed in feet. The draft of a ship determines the minimum depth of water necessary to navigate without grounding. Keel – The central longitudinal structural member of a ship to which all the frames, stem and sternpost are fastened. Galley – The compartment where food is prepared and cooked. Note to lubbers: there is no kitchen on board a ship. Head – 1) The toilet compartment. 2) The top corner or edge of a sail. Salon – Public living area on a boatBerth – A bunk where a seaman sleeps. Bulkhead – A partition separating areas below, like a wall. 2) Any vertical partition or wall in a ship. (note: there is no such thing as a wall on board ship.) Spinnaker – A large very lightweight downwind sail. Jib – A triangular headsail mounted to the headstay. Mainsail – The principal and largest sail in a sailplanMainsheet – The tackle used to control the angle of the mainsail to the wind. Clew – The lower aft corner of a fore and aft sail. Tack – The lower forward corner of a fore and aft sail. Windlass – A geared bit that gives a mechanical advantage when drawing a line taut. Sheet – A line leading from the lee corner of a sail or the end of a boom and used to control the angle of the sail to the wind. Halyard – An arrangement of line and blocks employed to hoist a sail or flag. Mast – A vertical spar on a sailing vessel employed as the support for the sails. Line – A rope that is engaged in a specific task on board ship, such as a sheet or halyard. Rode – The line or chain that reaches from a ship to its anchor.