A BAREBOAT YACHT COMES IN ALL SIZES, shapes, and types, but every sailing yacht, big or small, share common features.

Parts of a sailing yacht

Backstay: The support wire that runs from the mast down to the stern.

Forestay: The support wire that runs from the mast down to the bow. Also called the headstay.

Shrouds: The support wires that run from the mast down to the deck on either side. Sometimes called sidestays.

Boom: The horizontal pole that supports the bottom edge of the mainsail. The boom can swing from side to side as the boat turns, so be careful not to get in the boom's way as it swings or else - boom!

Tiller: The lever arm that controls the position of the rudder; commonly found on smaller boats (instead of a steering wheel).

Wheel: On larger boats, the steering wheel that controls the position of the rudder.

Bow: The front of the boat. The direction toward the bow is forward.

Stern: The back of the boat. The direction toward the stern (the opposite of forward) is aft.

Cockpit: The area where the crew sits to operate the boat.

Deck: The top of the hull... which is the floating part or body of the boat.

Topsides: The outer sides of the hull above the waterline.

Transom: The outer sides of the stern.

Beam: The width of the boat at any point. The maximum beam is the widest point.

Waterline: The water level on the hull.

Draught: The distance from the water's surface to the deepest point on the boat. The draft can also be referred to by the verb draw, as in, 'Our boat draws 1.8 metres'.

Freeboard: The distance between the deck of the boat and the water.