Nautical Glossary - H

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

half hitch

A single underhand loop used to fasten a rope to a post or other stationary object

halyard

A rope or wire used for hoisting sails

hand

A member of the crew

hank

To attach to a stay

hanks

Metal hooks or fittings sewn into the luff of a sail and used to secure the sail to a stay

hard-alee

A command to come about

hand bearing compass

A hand-held compass incorporating a sighting apparatus and used primarily for taking bearings

harden or harden up

To remove the luffing in a sail by pulling the sail in, making it tauter, and filling it with wind

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hatch

An opening in the deck with a cover

hawse hole

An opening on the foredeck through which anchor line or chain is fed

hawse pipe

The metal pipe from the hawse hold through which the anchor chain passes

head

1. The toilet or toilet area on a boat; 2. The forward part of a boat, including the bow and adjacent area; 3. The uppermost corner of a triangular sail

header

The wind becomes a header when with it strikes the sails from further towards the bow, causing the boat to sail lower, away from the original course (to leeward); Compare to lift

heading

Direction of sailing

headsail

1. All sails forward of the mast; 2. A sail set within the foretriangle and usually on a stay, including jibs and staysails.

headstay

A wire from the bow supporting the mast, also called forestay

head-to-wind

With the bow turned into the wind, sails luffing

headway

Moving forward

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heave

1. To haul or pull together; 2. To draw on; 3. To throw

heave away

To cast away, as in heave away a dock line

heave in

To haul in

heave short

To haul in on a cable until the vessel is nearly over her anchor

heave taut

To haul in on a line is taut with strain

heave to

To position a vessel's bow into the wind and hold it there until she stops, at which time she is considered "hove to"

heaving line

A light line with a knot or weight on one end to make it easier to throw the line far and accurately

heel

The tilt, tip, listing or laying over of a boat usually due to the wind

helm

The tiller or wheel by which the rudder is controlled and the area surrounding the steering device

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helmsman

The member of the crew responsible for steering

her or she

A nautical pronoun used when referring to a boat

hike or hike out

To lean or climb out to windward to counteract excessive heeling

hiking stick

An extension of the tiller that enables the helmsman to hike out while steering the boat during a race

hiking straps

Canvas or vinyl straps attached to the deck, floorboards, centerboard trunk or trampoline under which crew members can hook their feet when hiking out during a race

hitch

A simple knot used for temporarily fastening a rope

hogged

Describes a hull that is drooped at the ends due to improper, incorrect support during winter storage

hoist (noun)

1. The inner, vertical side of a flag; 2. The vertical dimension of a flag

hoist (verb)

To raise or haul aloft

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hold noun)

The interior area of a vessel where cargo is stowed

hold (verb)

To dig in the anchor so that it will not drag

hold course or hold your course (verb)

To remain on the current tack or direction of sail; 2. A command to stay on the present course

hook

An anchor

horn

The prong of a cleat

horseshoe

A life preserver shaped like a horseshoe with a ring for attaching a lanyard. Most often used for man-overboard emergencies.

hounds

The place on the mast where the forestays and shrouds come together

house

The part of the mast below deck

hove to

When a boat stops after being heaved to

hull

The main body of a boat consisting of the keel and frames, or ribs

hull speed

The theoretical maximum speed of the hull calculated by the square root of the waterline length times 1.4

hurricane

Winds from 64 knots (74 miles per hour) and above; see weather definitions