Sailing is a universal language of wind and water, yet the specific terms sailors use can vary dramatically across cultures and languages. Whether you're learning to sail in English-speaking waters, planning to charter a boat in Latin America, or joining a sailing expedition in Russia, understanding key nautical terminology in multiple languages is essential for both safety and effective communication. This comprehensive guide presents essential sailing vocabulary organized into seven key categories, with translations in English, Spanish (with emphasis on Mexican terminology), and Russian. From basic sailing maneuvers to emergency procedures, from boat construction to safety equipment, these tables provide sailors with the linguistic tools needed to navigate international waters with confidence.
Directions
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Starboard |
Estribor |
Правый галс |
Right side |
| Port |
Babor |
Левый галс |
Left side |
| Bow |
Proa |
Нос |
Front of the boat |
| Stern |
Popa |
Корма |
Back of the boat |
| Astern |
A Popa |
За кормой, у кормы |
Behind the boat |
| Beam |
Manga |
Бимс, ширина, траверз |
Widest part of the boat |
| Windward |
Barlovento |
Наветренный |
Side facing the wind |
Leeward |
Sotavento |
Подветренный |
Side away from the wind |
Ways of sailing
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Tack |
Virar |
Поворот Оверштак |
Turn the bow through the wind |
| Jibe |
Trasluchar |
Поворот Фордевинд |
Turn the stern through the wind |
| Close hauled |
Ceñida |
Бейдевинд |
Sailing with the wind almost straight in front |
| Run |
Largada |
Фордевинд |
Sailing with the wind almost straight behind |
| Reach |
Descuartelar |
Галфинд |
Sailing perpendicular to the wind |
| Close reach |
|
Полный бейдевинд |
Sailing with the wind slightly ahead of beam |
| Broad reach |
|
Бакштаг |
Sailing with the wind behind beam |
| Beam reach |
Través |
Галфинд |
Sailing with the wind across the beam |
Ways you can not sail
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| In irons |
Proa al viento |
Левентик, зависание в левентике |
Facing directly into the wind |
| Capsize |
Zozobrar |
Терпеть аварию, кильнуться |
Turn the boat on it's side in the water |
| Swamped |
Inundarse |
Залить яхту водой |
When the boat fills with water |
| Bail |
Achicar |
Сливать воду, отчерпываться, осушать |
Get water out of the hull |
Boat Parts
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Hull |
Casco |
Корпус |
The boat itself |
| Gunwales |
Borda |
Фальшборт, планширь швертбота |
Top edges of the hull's sides |
| Transom |
Espejo |
Транец |
Flat back end of hull |
| Thwart |
Través |
Банка |
Flat structural piece running from side to side |
| Mast step |
Paso de mástil |
Мачтовая балка |
Flat structural piece to receive the mast |
| Mast Cup |
Fogonadura |
Степс мачты/основание для мачты |
Metal cup that holds the end of the mast |
| Hiking straps |
Cinchas |
Ремень для откренивания |
Bands to hook your feet under |
Blades
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Rudder |
Timón |
Руль |
Steers the boat |
| Tiller |
Caña |
Румпель |
Extends the rudder into the boat |
| Tiller extension |
Stick |
Удлинитель румпеля |
Lets you control the rudder at a distance |
| Daggerboard |
Orza |
Шверт |
Extends through boat into the water |
| Daggerboard well |
Caja de orza |
Швертовый колодец |
Holds the daggerboard |
Spars
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Mast |
Mástil |
Мачта |
Holds sail up |
| Sprit |
Percha |
Шпринт |
Holds sail out at the top |
| Boom |
Botavara |
Гик |
Holds sail out at the bottom |
Lines
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Mainsheet |
Escota |
Гика-шкот |
Enables you to pull or let out the sail |
| Outhaul |
Pajarín |
Оттяжка нижней шкаторины/Грота-шкот |
Enables you to tighten or loosen the sail over the boom |
| Sail ties |
Cabitos |
Шкертики |
Attach the sail to the mast or boom |
| Mast ties |
Cabos de maste |
Крепежный трос для мачты |
Make sure the mast stays in the mast thwart |
| Sprit halyard |
Driza de percha |
Шпринт-оттяжка |
Enables you to lower or raise the Sprit pole |
| Vang |
Vang |
Гик-оттяжка |
Keeps the boom down |
| Painter / bowline |
Cabo de remolque |
Булинь/Беседочный узел |
The line attached to the bow for towing |
| Telltales |
Indicadores de vela |
Колдунчики |
Enables you to judge the wind direction on the sail |
| Wind pennant |
Veleta |
Флюгер |
Fits a top of the mast and shows wind direction |
Safety Equipment
| English |
Spanish |
Russian |
Description |
| Bailers |
Achicadores |
Водоотливные средства, черпак |
Plastic jugs to bail the boat |
| Life Jacket |
Salvavidas |
Спасательный жилет |
You wear one at all times |
| Whistle |
Silbato |
Свисток |
Attached to life jacket for emergencies |
| Airbags |
Flotador |
Воздушный мешок, баки |
Keep the boat floating eve when flooded |
