Parts of the Boat Parts of the Hull Sheets and Halyards Other Directions  Sails, Stays and Spars Bow  – pointy bit at the front the boat Stern  – blunt bit at the back Cabin  – lump in the middle you sleep in Keel  – big heavy fin-thing on the bottom of the boat  that keeps it from flipping over Rudder  – a movable fin at the back that steers the  boat, connected to a wheel or tiller for steering Main sheet  – rope for controlling the mainsail Jib sheets  – ropes for controlling the jib, usually one  on either side of the mast Halyard  – a rope for raising or lowering a sail Tiller  – a stick for steering, more fancy than a wheel Mast  – tall vertical stick the sails hang off Boom  – horizontal stick hanging off the mast Forestay  – front wire keeping the mast up Backstay  – back wire keeping the mast up Sidestay  – work it out genius... Mainsail  or  Main  – the big sail behind the mast Foresail  or  Jib  – the ‘little’ sail in front of the mast  (sometimes known as a genoa, ‘jennie’ etc)  (NB: this is important, it might sound silly but consider this – there  is only ONE port on a boat, but there could be lots of lefts -  depending on which way everyone is facing) Fore  – towards the bow Aft  – towards the stern Port  – to the left as you face the bow Starboard  – to the right as you face the bow Aft Port Fore Star- board