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backing (wind) - The changing of the wind direction, opposite of veering. Clockwise in the southern hemisphere, counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere.

backsplice - A method of weaving the end of a rope to keep it from unraveling.

backwinded - When the wind pushes on the wrong side of the sail, causing it to be pushed away from the wind. If the lines holding the sail in place are not released, the boat could become hard to control and heel excessively.

bail - To remove water from a boat, as with a bucket or a pump.

ballast - A weight at the bottom of the boat to help keep it stable. Ballast can be place inside the hull of the boat or externally in a keel.

bar - A region of shallow water usually made of sand or mud, usually running parallel to the shore. Bars are caused by wave and current action, and may not be shown on a chartchart

barge - A long vessel with a flat bottom used to carry freight on rivers. Barges are usually not powered, they are normally pushed or towed by a tugboat instead.

barograph - An instrument used to keep a record of atmospheric pressure, such as on a paper drum.

barometric pressure - Atmospheric pressure as measured by a barometer.

batten pockets - Pockets in a sail where battens can be placed to stiffen the sail.

batten - 1 - A thin strip of hard material, such as wood or plastic. 2 - Battens are attached to a sail to stiffen it to a more preferred shape. They are placed in pockets sewn into the sail called batten pockets.

bay - An enclosed body of water with a wide mouth leading to the sea.

beam reach - Sailing on a point of sail such that the apparent wind is coming from the beam side - of the boat at about a 90� angle. A beam reach is usually the fastest point of sail. A beam reach is a point of sail between a broad reach and a close reach.

beam - 1 - The widest part of a boat.

bear away, bear off - To fall off. A boat falls off the wind when it points its bow further from the eye of the wind. The opposite of heading up.

beating - Tacking. To sail against the wind by sailing on alternate tacks (directions).

Beaufort wind scale - A method of measuring the severity of the force of wind, named after Admiral Beaufort who created the system. 0 is no wind, whereas 12 would be a hurricane.

becket - A loop at the end of a line.

bend - A type of knot used to connect a line to a spar or another line. Also the act of using such a knot.

berth - 1 - A place for a person to sleep. 2 - A place where the ship can be secured. 3 - A safe and cautious distance, such as We gave the shark a wide berth

binnacle - The mount for the compass, usually located on the wheel's pedestal.

binocular - A pair of small telescopes, one for each eye, used to magnify distant objects.

bitt - A sturdy post mounted on the bow or stern to which anchor or mooring lines may be attached.

bitter end - The end of a line. Also the end of the anchor rode attached to the boat.

	block and tackle - A combination of one or more blocks and the associated tackle necessary to give a mechanical advantage. Useful for lifting heavy loads.
	block - One or more wheels with grooves in them pulleys - designed to carry a line and change the direction of its travel. A housing around the wheel allows the block to be connected to a spar, or another line. Lines used with a block are known as tackle.
	boatswain - Also bosun, bos'n, bo's'n, and bo'sun, all of which are pronounced bosun. A crew member responsible for keeping the hull, rigging and sails in repair.
	bolt rope - A line rope - sewn into the luff of a sail. The bolt rope fits in a notch in the mast or other spar when the sail is raised.
	boom vang - Any system used to hold the boom down. This is useful for maintaining proper sail shape, particularly when running or on a broad reach.
	bow & beam bearings - A set of bearings taken from an object with a known position, such as a landmark, to determine the ship's location. A type of running fix.
	bow - The front of the boat.
	Bowditch - A reference book named after the original author, Nathaniel Bowditch. Updated versions contain tables and other information useful for navigation.
	bowline - A knot used to make a loop in a line. Easily untied, it is simple and strong. The bowline is used to tie sheets to sails.
	bowspit - spar projecting from the bow. a short spar extending forward from the bow. Normally used to anchor the forestay.
	brace - A guy. A line used to control the movement of the object at the other end, such as a spar.
	breakers - A wave that approaches shallow water, causing the wave height to exceed the depth of the water it is in, in effect tripping it. The wave changes from a smooth surge in the water to a cresting wave with water tumbling down the front of it.
	breast line - A line attached laterally from a boat to a dock, preventing movement away from the dock.
	bridge - 1 - The room from which a ship is controlled. On a smaller boat this is usually not a room, is outside, and is known as a cockpit. 2 - A man made structure crossing a body of water, usually for the use of automobiles or train. A boat intending to pass under a bridge needs to make sure it has sufficient vertical clearance unless it is a swinging bridge or a drawbridge.
	brightwork - Pieces of wood trim and also any polished metal on a vessel.
	broach to - An undesirable position in which a vessel is turned to expose its side to the oncoming waves.
	broaching - The unplanned turning of a vessel to expose its side to the oncoming waves. In heavy seas this could cause the boat to be knocked down.
	broad on the beam - The position of an object that lies off to one side of the vessel.
	bulkhead - An interior wall in a vessel. Sometimes bulkheads are also watertight, adding to the vessel's safety.
	burgee - A type of flag used to identify a boater's affiliation with a yacht club or boating organization.

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