Sailing Glossary
360: Meaning a “360-degree penalty turn”, one complete circle sailed as a penalty for hitting a buoy
720: Meaning a “720-degree penalty turn”, two complete circles sailed as a penalty for breaching a rule
Abandon: A ruling by the Race Committee or jury to void a race, although it may be sailed again later
Bear away: To alter course away from the wind
Beat: The line taken to sail most directly into the wind (about 45 degrees from wind direction); also known as “work”
BFD: Meaning Black Flagged – a ruling where a boat is deemed to have prematurely started a race that is started under Black Flag and is disqualified from that race, irrespective of whether that race is subsequently restarted, and awarded the maximum number of points
Buoy: A rounding mark that floats on the water, denoting the required course
DNC: Meaning “did not compete”, the ruling when a boat fails to compete in a scheduled race and is awarded the maximum number of points for the race
DNE: Meaning “do not exclude”, the ruling when the jury disqualifies a boat from a race and awards the maximum number of points for the race, points which may not be discarded from the overall score later
DNF: Meaning “did not finish”, the ruling when a boat fails to finish a race and is awarded the maximum number of points for the race
DNS: Meaning “did not start”, the ruling when a competing boat fails to start a race and is awarded the maximum number of points for that race
DSQ: Meaning “disqualified”, the ruling when the jury disqualifies a boat from a race and awards the maximum number of points for the race
Fleet racing: A style of race employed exclusively at these Olympic Games where all the competitors sail against each other at once
Forestay: The rigging that secures the mast forward
Gybe: To shift the mainsail from one side to the other when sailing with the wind behind; also “jibe”
Headsail: The sail in front of the mast
Jibe: To shift the mainsail from one side to the other when sailing with the wind behind; also “gybe”
Leeward: The side farthest from the wind
Leg: A part of the course bounded by two marks or buoys
Luffing: Altering course toward the wind
Mark: A buoy that defines the endpoint of a leg of a race
Mast: A vertical spar or pole to which a sail or sails attach
Match racing: One-on-one racing between two boats – a strategy employed in normal fleet racing – typically at the end of a race or series of races to protect a placing
Mixed: A style of competition in which each competing boat must one male and one female athlete
OCS: Meaning “on course side”, a ruling where a boat is deemed to have started a race prematurely and is subsequently disqualified from the race and awarded the maximum number of points
Port: A boat’s left side when looking forward
Pre-start manoeuvres: Tactical manoeuvres in the water carried out with the intention of being in the best possible position at the starting signal
Race committee: The on-water officials responsible for setting the course, starting, and finishing the race in accordance with the race rules and regulations
RDG: Meaning “redress”, a ruling where the jury reinstates or changes a boat’s score for a particular race, based on a protest hearing
Reach: To sail across the wind, or between the extremes of beat and run
Rudder: A vertical board hinged to the back of a boat that turns the craft
Run: The course taken to sail most directly downwind, or with the wind
Starboard: A boat’s right side when looking forward
Tack: To change direction relative to wind direction (usually in a zigzag manner over the duration of an upwind leg), such as changing from having the wind on the right to having the wind on the left
Trapezoidal: A four-leg course configuration with separate starting and finish lines
UFD: Meaning U-Flagged – a ruling where a boat is deemed to have prematurely started a race that is started under “U” Flag and is disqualified from that race and awarded the maximum number of points, unless that race is subsequently restarted.
Windward: The side closest to the wind
Windward return: A type of course configuration requiring the boats to sail into the wind to a mark, then in the same direction as the wind when returning to a second mark
Work: The course taken to sail most directly into the wind (about 45 degrees from wind direction); also known as “beat”.