So You Think You're a Yachtsman? Quiz

Answer: On a shroud

Baggy wrinkles are used to prevent sail chafe and are usually attached to the main shrouds, port and starboard. They can be used on any shroud that may rub against a sail. They were traditionally made by sailors out of old lines cut to various lengths and attached to a central core to form a sleeve.

Answer: At the top of the main mast

The pig stick is used to fly your yacht club burgee. (You do belong to a yacht club, don't you?) The pig stick is designed to be hoisted by a small halyard to the maintop so that the burgee flies above the mast and is free to rotate to show the direction of the apparent wind.

This one you won't find at Amazon. I had to make it myself lovingly varnished and with bronze fittings. As my sailing days are over, it now hangs on the wall in the den next to a picture of my 37ft. cutter.

Answer: At the bow or stern

On almost all yachts, that are designed to have a boomkin, it is at the stern. It is used to extend the anchor point for the main after shroud beyond the after hull. It's usually made of heavy planks (or tubing) and securely fixed to the hull. It is also good for rigging "over the water" barbeques or self steering gear.

Answer: On the main deck, forward of the main cabin

A deadlight is a glass prism, sealed in a watertight fixture and set flush with the main deck. It is designed to let sunlight into the forward part of the yacht. As it is a prism it does a good job of bringing light to the normally darker part of the yacht.

Answer: On the bowsprit

On yachts with larger bowsprits, the dolphin striker extends at a right angle below the bowsprit. It is used to secure and adjust the proper stay angle to support the bowsprit. From it's position it's obvious where the name dolphin striker came from. It is illegal to strike dolphins (except, of course, in season).

Answer: It's used as a small light sail, always in conjunction with a spinnaker.

A spanker is set inboard of the spinnaker and requires a separate sheet winch in addition to the spinnaker winch. It's not usually used on pleasure yachts as it's a difficult to set correctly. If you are racing in light air, however, it does help.

Answer: On the stern and the rudder

The gudgeons and pintles allow the rudder to move as directed by the tiller or helm. The gudgeons are ring like fittings attached to the stern. The pintles are pin like fittings, attached to the forward part of the rudder, which fit into the gudgeons supporting the rudder and allowing it to turn freely.

Answer: On the bulwarks, below the toerail

Scuppers are fitted close to the main deck, in the bulwarks. When the yacht's bulwarks are not flush with the main deck, the scuppers allow water accumulated on the deck to automatically drain when the yacht is heeled on either tack.

Answer: Because it is easy to untie when wet or under a strain.

Because the bowline is used to secure the sheets to the sail clews and are almost always under strain, and, of course, it's always wet on a sail boat, it's considered the most useful knot. The other answers are true but not the main reason to use the bowline on a sailboat.

Answer: That your yacht handles easly under sail and is quick to answer the helm.

Yare,(pronounced yar) in other connotations, is from archaic middle English meaning ready and or able. The nautical usage given here is probably the only modern use of the word. But is does make you sound like a pirate.