Nautical Glossary - L

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

lacing

Lines used to fix sail to a spar or mast

laid up

To be in dry dock

land breeze

Evening breeze that blows from the land to the sea

landlocked

To be completely surrounded by land, with no waterway to the sea

landfall

A sighting of or coming to land

landlubber

1. Someone who prefers land to sailing; 2. A beginning sailor who would be better off on land than on the sea

lanyard

A line attached to any object for the purpose of securing the object to a person, to a boat, or another object

lapstrake

A type of hull construction with strakes overlapping in shingle fashion

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lash

To bind or secure a person or object with a line

latchings

Loops on head rope of a bonnet by which it is laced to the foot of a sail

lateen

A triangular sail with a comparatively short luff, bent to a yard that is set obliquely to the mast

latitude

An angular measurement or distance measured in degrees, north or south from the equator which is 0 degrees

lay

1. To bring; 2. To come or to go

lay aft

An order to go toward the stern of a boat

lay line

An imaginary line which brings a close-hauled boat directly to a mark without tacking or jibing again

lay off

To rule off a course

layup

Protecting a boat during winter storage

lazarette

A small space below deck, usually aft, where spare parts are kept

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lazy guy

Rigging to steady the boom to prevent a jibe in rough seas

lazy jacks

A bridle of light line leading down from the topping lift or mast of a sailboat to the boom. Fitted on each side of the sail, lazy jacks hold the mainsail as it is lowered, keeping it from falling on deck or overboard

leading edge

The forward part of a sail

lead line

A line marked off in fathoms and weighted at one end with a lead, used for measuring water depths--also called a sounding line.

league

A distance measurement of three nautical miles

lee

1. The sheltered side of land away from the wind, not to be confused with the leeward shore 2. The side away from the wind on a ship

lee boards

pivoting boards on either side of a boat which serve the same function as a centerboard. The board to leeward is dropped, the board to windward is kept up.

leech

The after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

leech line

A line used to adjust the fullness of a sail by loosening and tightening the leech

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leeward

The direction which is away from the wind; downwind

leeward helm

A boats tendency to fall off from the wind and a need to hold the tiller to leeward 

leeward shore or lee shore

Shore onto which the wind is blowing, on the lee side of a vessel. This is a dangerous shore for sailboats; Compare to weather shore

lifeline

A wire or rope rigged around the deck of a vessel for the safety of the crew. 2. Coated safety wire running through stanchions around the perimeter of the deck

lift

The wind causes a lift when it strikes the sails from a more favorable angle, from further aft, making it possible for the boat to point higher (to windward). Compare to header

list

The leaning of a boat due to excess weight on one side or the other

log

1. A device for measuring the rate of a ship's motion through the water; 2. A ship's journal or written record of the vessel's day-by-day performance, listing speeds, distances traveled, weather conditions, landfalls and other information

longitude

Distance in degrees east or west of Greenwich, England, meridian which is 0.

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loran

A radio positioning system that allows navigators to make position fixes by the reception of synchronized low-frequency radio transmissions. The word loran is an acronym for long-range navigation.

lubber

A beginner

lubberline

The fore-and-aft line of a compass

luff

1. The forward edge of a sail; 2. To bring the boat closer to the wind making the sails flutter, or luff; 3. To bring a boat head to wind

luff rope

A line sewn into the luff of a sail

lug

A fore-and-aft sail almost square in shape that is bent to a yard and. when hoisted and set, it is slung leeward of the mast with its tack well forward. It is used in various rigs and is referred to as a standing, dipping, or balanced lug.

lull

A period of calm

lunch hook

A lightweight anchor used for brief daytime stops when the craft will not be left unattended; see storm anchor and working anchor

lying to

Keeping a boat stationary with her head to wind, usually be means of a sea anchor