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## Parts of the Boat 

<img src='content_image/789465.jpg'>

## Parts of the Hull 

Bow  – pointy bit at the front the boat 

Stern  – blunt bit at the back 

Cabin  – lump in the middle you sleep in 

Keel  – big heavy fin-thing on the bottom of the boat that keeps it from flipping over 

Rudder  – a movable fin at the back that steers the boat, connected to a wheel or tiller for steering 

## Sails, Stays and Spars 

Mast  – tall vertical stick the sails hang off 

Boom  – horizontal stick hanging off the mast 

Forestay – front wire keeping the mast up 

Backstay  – back wire keeping the mast up 

Sidestay  – work it out genius... 

Mainsail or Main  – the big sail behind the mast 

Foresail or  Jib – the ‘little’ sail in front of the mast (sometimes known as a genoa, ‘jennie’ etc) 

## Sheets and Halyards 

Main sheet  – rope for controlling the mainsail 

Jib sheets  – ropes for controlling the jib, usually one on either side of the mast 

Halyard – a rope for raising or lowering a sail 

## Other 

Tiller  – a stick for steering, more fancy than a wheel 

## Directions 

Fore  – towards the bow 

Aft  – towards the stern 

Port  – to the left as you face the bow 

Starboard  – to the right as you face the bow 

(NB: this is important, it might sound silly but consider this – there is only ONE port on a boat, but there could be lots of lefts - depending on which way everyone is facing) 

