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Match Racing -
When two boats are on the starting line, the race is called match racing. Match racing has its own set of rules, which are slightly different from the regular racing rules, that create very close, aggressive competition in which collisions are certainly not rare.
Match racing also has on-the-water judging, with umpires doling out "instant justice" on the water.
Match racing is tremendously exciting to participate in. And, unlike watching other sailing competitions, match racing can be thrilling to watch. Before the start, the boats vie for control, circling each other and trying to wipe each other off on spectator boats in an elaborate game of cat and mouse.
Abeam:at right angles to the boat.
Aft: toward the stern; opposite of forward.
Back:to trim a sail windward so that it fills with wind backward
Backstay:the support wire between the top of the mast and the back of the boat
Beam:the width of the boat at any point; also the side of the boat.
Bear away:to turn away from the wind (or to turn to leeward).
Bearing: the angle to an object measured in compass or relative degrees.
Boom: the horizontal pole that supports the bottom edge of the mainsail.
Bow:the front of the boat.
By the lee:sailing downwind with the wind coming over the same side of the boat as the boom is trimmed, which can cause an accidental jibe.
Clew:the aft, bottom corner of a sail.
Close-hauled: the closest course to the wind that you can effectively sail. Also called sailing upwind, on the wind or beating.
Cockpit: the area where the crew sits to operate the boat.
Deck: the top of the hull.
Downwind:(1) a run, but can mean any point of sail when the wind is aft of the beam (2) the direction the wind is blowing toward.
Flight: a group or series of races
Foot: (1) the bottom edge of a sail. (2) to sail slightly lower than close-hauled in order to go faster.
Forestay: the support wre that runs from the mast down to the bow.
Genoa: a large jib that overlaps the mast.
Grommet: a small plastic or metal ring pressed or sewn into a sail, creating a hole.>
Head: the top corner of any sail.
Head up: to turn the boat toward the wind (or windward).
Heavy air:strong winds.
Helm:(1) the wheel or tiller - the steering device. (2) A technical word for the balance of forces on the rudder. (3) the position of the helmsman on the boat.
Helmsman:the driver or skipper of the boat.
Hull:the body of the boat.
Jib:the most common headsail.
Jibe:to change tacks by turning away from the wind.
Keel: A fixed, ballasted center fin that keeps the boat from sideslipping and provides stability to prevent capsizing or tipping over.
Knot: (1) nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour.
Layline: the line beyond which you can lay (make) the destination on a close-hauled course with no more tacks.
Leech: the back edge of a sail.
Leeward: downwind; away from the wind.
Luff: (1) the front edge of a sail from the head to the tack. (2) The flapping motion of sailcloth when a sail is undertrimmed (or not trimmed at all).
Mainsail:the aft-most sail on a boat with one mast, normally attached to the mast along its front edge.
Mainsheet:the adjustment rope that pulls the boom (hence the mainsail) in and out.
Mast: the vertical pole that supports sails.
No-sail zone:Zone where a sailboat can't sail; about 90 degrees wide, with the center point being toward the true wind direction.
Port:left.
Port tack:Sailing with the wind coming over the left side of the boat.
Puff:An increase in wind velocity.
Rig:(1) the mast and standing rigging. (2) a term for preparing the boat (or sail or fitting) for use.
Rudder: the underwater fin that steers a boat; controlled by a tiller or wheel on deck.
Sheet: the primary line that adjusts the sail's trim. Usually referred to with the sail it adjusts, as in, "Pull in the mainsheet."
Spinnaker:a big, colorful, parachute-like specialty sail used when sailing downwind.
Standard rigging:all the wires that support the mast, including the forestay, shrouds and backstay.
Starboard:right.
Starboard tack: sailing with the wind coming over the boat's right side.
Stern: the back end of the boat.
Tack:(1) the front, bottom corner of a sail. (2) the boat's heading in relation to the wind (that is on starboard or port tack) (3) to change tacks by turning toward the wind, entering the no-sail zone from one side and exiting on the other.
Tiller: the lever arm that controls the position of the rudder.
Tiller extension:a device attached to the end of the tiller that enables a person to sit farther outboard while steering.
Trim:(1) to pull in a rope or a sail. (2) the set of sails. (3) the bow-up or bow-down position of the boat when not moving.
Windward:toward the wind; the side the wind blows upon.
Wing the jib:when sailing on a run, to trim the job on the opposite side as the mainsail.
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