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Basic Sailing Terminology Trivia Quiz

Have you ever listened to you friends talk about the most recent sailing trip and wondered what they were talking about? If so, take this quiz and you will be able to understand at least part of what they are talking about in sailing.

A multiple-choice quiz by bsss. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
bsss

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
220,345

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
847

Last 3 plays: Guest 91 (6/10), Guest 147 (6/10), Guest 99 (7/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. The large usually colorful triangular sail used while running with the wind is called the what? Hint

Main

Spinnaker

Jib

Mast

NEXT>

2. Turning a sailboat so that the bow passes through the eye of the wind is known as what? Hint

Tacking

Broaching

Jibing

Reaching

NEXT>

3. What is the name of the line which is used to raise or lower the sails? Hint

Halyard

Painter

Sheet

Teather

NEXT>

4. When a sailboat is pointing directly into the wind and all forward momentum has ceased, the boat is said to be what? Hint

Close hauled

Stopped

In irons

Stalled

NEXT>

5. When a sailboat "turtles" the boat, it is what? Hint

Taking water over the bow

Completely upside down

Taking water over the stern

Has dramatically slowed down

NEXT>

6. Which of the following is not a type of sailboat? Hint

Yawl

Tabernacle

Schooner

Dinghy

NEXT>

7. A sailing vessel which is under sail usually has the right of way over all of the following except what? Hint

A similar sized vessel which is being powered by a motor

A container ship

Another boat approaching from the left

A jet ski

NEXT>

8. You are returning to port after a day of sailing. Ahead of you is a channel marked by colored buoys. How should you enter the channel? Hint

With all of the buoys on your left

To the left of the black and white buoy and to the left of the green buoy

To the right of the black and white buoy and to the left of the red buoy

Anywhere you want as long as you stay between the buoys

NEXT>

9. The lines which are used to control a sails direction in relation to the direction of the wind are called what? Hint

Outhaul

Ropes

Sheets

Halyards

NEXT>

10. Most sails have three corners. Which of the following is not the name of one of the corners? Hint

Luff

Tack

Head

Clew

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The large usually colorful triangular sail used while running with the wind is called the what?

Answer: Spinnaker

The spinnaker is only used when the wind is coming from behind the vessel. The main and the jib can be used for all points of sail. The mast is the verticle pole the sails are attached to.

2. Turning a sailboat so that the bow passes through the eye of the wind is known as what?

Answer: Tacking

Turning the boat so that the stern passed through the eye of the wind is called jibing.

3. What is the name of the line which is used to raise or lower the sails?

Answer: Halyard

A sheet controls the sails angle to the wind. A painter is also known as the bow line. A teather is used to tie objects to the boat.

4. When a sailboat is pointing directly into the wind and all forward momentum has ceased, the boat is said to be what?

Answer: In irons

Once a boat is "in irons", the only way to get going again is to back up until the wind is once again at an angle to the boat.

5. When a sailboat "turtles" the boat, it is what?

Answer: Completely upside down

Often times, once a boat has turtled, it cannot be righted without the assistance of another boat.

6. Which of the following is not a type of sailboat?

Answer: Tabernacle

A tabernacle is a support to assist with stepping the mast.

7. A sailing vessel which is under sail usually has the right of way over all of the following except what?

Answer: A container ship

A container ship would fit into the "might over right" category. Because of the difficulty in steering a very large ship, the limited visibility and their need for deep water, very large vessels are given rights over other more maneuverable vessels.

8. You are returning to port after a day of sailing. Ahead of you is a channel marked by colored buoys. How should you enter the channel?

Answer: To the right of the black and white buoy and to the left of the red buoy

You can remember this by using the three Rs, red, right, returning.

9. The lines which are used to control a sails direction in relation to the direction of the wind are called what?

Answer: Sheets

Each sail has at least one sheet for example, the main sheet. Some sails have multiple sets of sheets for example, jib sheets.

10. Most sails have three corners. Which of the following is not the name of one of the corners?

Answer: Luff

The luff is the leading edge of the sail. It is the part of the sail which stalls out first if you are sailing too close to the wind.

Source: Author bsss

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Most Recent Scores

May 31 2023 : Guest 91: 6/10
May 30 2023 : Guest 147: 6/10
May 27 2023 : Guest 99: 7/10
May 27 2023 : Guest 172: 2/10
May 24 2023 : Guest 31: 4/10
May 24 2023 : Guest 68: 7/10
May 23 2023 : Guest 84: 6/10
May 23 2023 : Guest 92: 4/10
May 22 2023 : Guest 82: 6/10

Score Distribution

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