Selection from the Nautical Dictionary
In irons
All way lost when attempting to tack. The boat is pointing into the wind with the sails flapping - it will not pay off to either tack by its own momentum and is temporarily out of control.
Backwinded
If your sails are filled with the wind on the opposite side to what you want (eg if trimmed for the starboard tack, but getting wind from the port side), you are said to be ‘backwinded’.
Amidships
In the middle of the boat.
Traveler
A track (usually metal) with a sliding fixture. The fixture usually holds the main sheet and the sliding allows for changing sail angles.
Thwart
Crosswise member, provides hull stiffness and forms a seat in the boat.
Clew
An aft corner of a triangular sail.
Pay off
Allow the boat to turn leeward.
Transom
Board forming the flat aft end of a hull.
Up wind
Object nearer the direction the wind is coming from (than the observer).
All standing
To have all sails flying when running before the wind.