Whether you’re a sailing novice or a nautical expert, it’s good to know some of the sailing terms that go along with taking a Star Clippers cruise. After all, it’s not like being on a regular cruise ship and there’s plenty of lingo that may not be familiar. Here’s a cheat-sheet that you can take along with you next time you’re on board so you can sound like a pro!

BOOM: A long spar extending from a mast to hold or extend the foot of a sail.

BOWSPRIT: A spar extending forward from the stem of a ship to which the stays of the foremast are fastened.

BRACING: A rope by which a yard is swung and secured on a square-rigged ship.

COURSE: The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship.

CROSSJACK: The lowest square sail, or the lower yard of the mizzenmast.

FOREMAST: The forward mast on a sailing vessel.

JIB: A triangular sail stretching from the foretopmast head to the jib boom and in small craft to the bowsprit or the bow.

JIGGER: A small sail set in the stern of a yawl or similar boat.

MAST: A tall vertical spar, sometimes sectioned, that rises from the keel or deck of a sailing vessel to support the sails and the standing and running rigging.

MIZZENMAST: The third mast or the mast aft of a mainmast on a ship having three or more masts.

RIGGING: To fit (sails or shrouds, for example) to masts and yards.

RUNNING RIGGING: Gives support to each mast against sideways strain. It is made of galvanized steel, fitted to adjustable stout placement at the rails opposite each mast.

SHROUDS: One of a set of ropes or wire cables stretched from the masthead to the sides of a vessel to support the mast.

SPANKER: A usually gaff-headed sail set from the aftermost lower mast of a sailing ship.

SPAR: A wooden or metal pole, such as a boom, yard or bowsprit, used to support sails and rigging.

SQUARE-RIGGED: Fitted with square sails as the principal sails.

SQUARESAIL: A four-sided sail extended by a yard suspended horizontally across the mast.

STAY: A heavy rope or cable, usually of wire, used as a brace or support for a mast or spar.

STAYSAIL: a fore-and-aft sail set on a stay (as between two masts).

TOPGALLANT: Of, relating to or being the mast above the topmast, its sails, or its rigging.

TOPSAIL: A square sail set above the lowest sail on the mast of a square-rigged ship.

UNDER SAIL: An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.

YARD: A long tapering spar slung to a mast to support and spread the head of a square sail, lugsail or lateen.