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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
973

Last 3 plays: Guest 216 (9/10), Guest 210 (5/10), Guest 72 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

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

Main

Mast

Jib

Spinnaker

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

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

Jibing

Reaching

Broaching

Tacking

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

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

Sheet

Teather

Painter

Halyard

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

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

Stopped

Close hauled

Stalled

In irons

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

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

Has dramatically slowed down

Taking water over the bow

Completely upside down

Taking water over the stern

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

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

Dinghy

Yawl

Tabernacle

Schooner

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Question 7 of 10

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>

Question 8 of 10

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>

Question 9 of 10

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

Ropes

Outhaul

Halyards

Sheets

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

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

Head

Clew

Tack

Luff

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Most Recent Scores

Oct 21 2024 : Guest 216: 9/10
Oct 16 2024 : Guest 210: 5/10
Oct 08 2024 : Guest 72: 10/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 75: 9/10
Sep 28 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10

Score Distribution

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.

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