Anchor Light - a small light used to discharge the battery before daylight.

Bare Boat - Clothing Optional.

Beam Sea - A situation in which waves strike a boat from the side, causing it to roll unpleasantly. This is one of the four directions from which wave action tends to produce extreme physical discomfort. The other three are `bow sea' (waves striking from the front), `following sea' (waves striking from the rear), and `quarter sea' (waves striking from any other direction).

Berth - a little addition to the crew.

Boat ownership. Standing fully-clothed under a cold shower, tearing up 100-dollar bills

Boom - sometimes the result of a surprise jibe.

Boom - Called boom for the sound that's made when it hits crew in the head on its way across the boat. For slow crew, it's called `boom, boom.'

Bottom Paint - what you get when the cockpit seats are freshly painted.

Calm - Sea condition characterized by the simultaneous disappearance of the wind and the last cold beverage.
 

Chart - a type of map which tells you exactly where you are aground.

Clew - an indication from the skipper as to what he might do next.

Companionway - a double berth.

Course - The direction in which a skipper wishes to steer his boat and from which the wind is blowing. Also, the language that results by not being able to.

Cruising - Fixing your boat in exotic locations.

Crew - Heavy, stationary objects used on shipboard to hold down charts, anchor cushions in place and dampen sudden movements of the boom.

Current - Tidal flow that carries a boat away from its desire destination, or towards a hazard

Dead Reckoning - a course leading directly to a reef.

Deadrise - getting up to check the anchor at 0300.

Deviation - any departure from the Captain’s orders.

Dinghy - the sound of the ship’s bell.

Displacement - when you dock your boat and can’t find it later.

Estimated Position - a place you have marked on the chart where you are sure you are not.

First Mate - crew member necessary for skippers to practice shouting instructions to.

Flashlight - Tubular metal container used on shipboard for storing dead batteries prior to their disposal

Fluke - The portion of an anchor that digs securely into the bottom, holding the boat in place; also, any occasion when this occurs on the first try.

Gybe - A common way to get unruly guests off your boat.

Headway - what you are making if you can’t get the toilet to work.

Head up - Leaving the boat toilet seat up. When boat skipper is female, leaving the head up is a serious offense

Heave-Ho - what you do when you’ve eaten too much Ho.

Jack Lines - `Hey baby, want to go sailing?'

Jibe - either you like it or you don’t and it gets you.

Keel - term used by 1st mate after too much heel by skipper.

Ketch - A sailboat with good wine in the cabin

Landlubber - anyone on board who wishes he were not.

Latitude - the number of degrees off course allowed a guest.

Mast - religious ritual used before setting sail.

Motor Sailer - A sailboat that alternates between sail/rigging problems and engine problems, and with some booze in the cabin.

Noserly - What to call the wind direction when it comes from where you're going

Ram - an intricate docking maneuver sometimes used by experienced skippers.

Rhumb Line - two or more crew members waiting for a drink.

Sailing - The fine art of getting wet and becoming ill, while going nowhere slowly at great expense.

Schooner - A sailboat with a fully stocked liquor cabinet in the cabin

Starboard - special board used by skippers for navigation (usually with "Port" on the opposite side.)

Swell - a wave that’s just great.