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1. Looking forward on a boat, which side is ‘starboard’?

2. A line used to hoist or lower a sail is called what?

3. How many ropes are there on sailing boat?

4. The wind felt by those aboard a moving boat is known as what?

5. The guard rail and area around the forward deck is known as the ‘pulpit’.

6. When your boat is stuck pointing straight into the wind so you cannot sail, you are in what?

7. A ‘pan-pan’ distress signal sent by radio means what?

8. When a wind is ‘veering’ it is doing what?

9. A typical small sailing yacht with mainsail and jib is known as what?

10. The best way to learn to sail is on a real boat.

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Sailing Test

Quizzes on sailing to test your knowledge

Welcome to SailingTest.com

This site is setup to help you learn and test your knowledge on basic sailing. We have created interactive quizzes covering all aspects of sailing.

Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the water, on ice or on land over a chosen course, which is often part of a larger plan of navigation. A course defined with respect to the true wind direction is called a point of sail.  Wikipedia

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Sailin’ Through Trivia Quiz: Nautical Nonsense & 161 Knot-So-Common Questions

September 10, 2023 By Anastasia Voloshina Leave a Comment

Ahoy, trivia mates! Prepare to set sail on the sea of knowledge with our quiz that’s chock-full of maritime merriment! We promise it’s knot your average quiz. From bow to stern, we’ve navigated the seven seas of facts to bring you a boatload of questions that will surely float your boat! So hoist the anchor, man the helm, and let’s get this ship-quizzical adventure started!

1. Who was the first person to sail solo around the world?

2. What is the world’s largest sailing yacht?

3. What year did the America’s Cup start?

4. How long did the longest sailing voyage last?

5. What is the name of the sailor who holds the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation?

6. What’s the most expensive material commonly used for sails?

7. What is the primary purpose of the keel on a sailboat?

8. Which is the oldest active sailing ship?

9. In which country was the first sailing club established?

10. What weird phenomenon can create “dead zones” where sailing becomes difficult?

11. What is the term for the right side of a boat?

12. What is the most commonly used knot in sailing?

13. How many gold medals did Sir Ben Ainslie win in Olympic sailing?

14. What is the term for a fast downward movement of the bow of a boat?

15. Who was the first woman to complete a solo circumnavigation of the Earth?

16. What is the sail at the front of the boat called?

17. In which year was the laser class of sailing dinghies introduced?

18. What is the world record for the most number of sailboats in a single class start?

19. What’s the name of the point of land sticking out into water, towards which sailboats often race?

20. What ancient civilization was among the first to develop advanced sailing techniques?

21. What is the name of the largest sailing yacht in the world?

22. What term refers to the depth of water needed to float a boat?

23. Who was the first person to sail solo around the world non-stop?

24. What is the sailing speed record in knots?

25. What is the name of the narrow piece of water connecting two large bodies of water?

26. What’s the most expensive sailing race?

27. What material was most commonly used for sails before Dacron was invented?

28. Which island is known as the ‘Sailing Capital of the World’?

29. What term refers to the rear of the boat?

30. What is the largest saltwater lake in the world, known for sailing?

31. What type of boat is specifically designed for speed and agility?

32. What famous explorer’s voyage was the first to circumnavigate the Earth, though he didn’t live to complete it?

33. What is the term for the right side of a boat when facing forward?

34. What’s the most common distress signal in sailing?

35. What is the sailing equivalent of a parking lot for boats?

36. Which country has the most Olympic gold medals in sailing?

37. What’s the smallest ocean in the world, known for its sailing routes?

38. Who is considered the father of modern sailing?

39. What device shows the boat’s speed and direction in water?

40. What is the nautical term for the kitchen on a boat?

41. Which famous author was also an avid sailor and wrote extensively about it?

42. What type of sailing is done strictly for pleasure or competition and excludes any form of business, such as carrying cargo or passengers?

43. What is the term for the maximum angle at which a sailing vessel can sail relative to the wind?

44. What’s the nautical term for right?

45. What is the name of the pirate who is said to have never harmed those he captured?

46. What’s the primary material used in modern sails?

47. What is the term for a rope or line used for raising, lowering, or controlling the tension on a sail?

48. What is the nautical term for left?

49. What year did sailing become an Olympic sport?

50. Who wrote the famous book “Sailing Alone Around the World”?

51. What is the nautical term for stopping a sailing vessel by dropping anchor?

52. What was the first recorded instance of piracy?

53. How many essential knots should every sailor know, at a minimum?

54. Which part of the boat points toward the wind when you’re “luffing”?

55. What is the primary use of a Bosun’s chair in sailing?

56. Which novelist and sailor was a British spy in World War II?

57. What is the term for a sailing vessel with two hulls?

58. What is the name of the scale used to measure wind force?

59. What do you call the sails at the front of a boat?

60. What is the name of the pirate flag featuring a skull and crossbones?

61. What do you call the bottom corner of a triangular sail?

62. Who is considered the “Father of Modern Yachting”?

63. What is the meaning of the nautical term ‘Aweigh’?

64. What’s the name of the famous annual yacht race that starts in Sydney, Australia?

65. What was the earliest type of sailing vessel?

66. What is the purpose of a “tell-tale” on a sail?

67. What do you call the action of turning a boat’s stern through the wind?

68. What’s the name of the race that allows only solo circumnavigation?

69. How long is the longest sailing race in the world?

70. What’s the term for adjusting the sails for maximum efficiency?

71. What is a Spinnaker used for?

72. What is the nautical term for a speed of one nautical mile per hour?

73. What is the meaning of the nautical term “Alee”?

74. What is a “Yawl”?

75. How many sails does a “Sloop” typically have?

76. What’s the largest sail on a standard sloop-rigged boat?

77. What is the international radio distress signal used for life-threatening emergencies?

78. Which knot is commonly used to tie a line to a cleat?

79. What’s the term for sailing into the wind?

80. What is the nautical term for steering a sailing vessel closer towards the direction of the wind?

81. What do you call the horizontal pole that extends the foot of the sail?

82. What’s the term for when all sails are drawing wind from the same side of the boat?

83. What country has won the America’s Cup the most?

84. What is a “Sheet” in sailing terminology?

85. What does “Heave To” mean?

86. What are ‘Foulies’ in the context of sailing?

87. What is the purpose of a “Cunningham” on a sail?

88. What do you call a pirate flag typically featuring a skull and crossbones?

89. What is “Keelhauling”?

90. What is the tallest type of sailing ship?

91. Which famous explorer was killed in the Philippines after his involvement in local politics while on a sailing expedition?

92. What is the line used to hoist or lower a sail called?

93. What is a group of ships sailing together, typically led by one ship?

94. What do you call the front edge of a sail?

95. Which company manufactured the most expensive sailing yacht ever built?

96. What type of sailboat has only one mast?

97. What is the term for the angle between the direction to the true wind and the course?

98. What does ‘LOA’ stand for in boating?

99. What do you call the maneuver to change direction in which the bow of the boat turns through the wind?

100. What is the fastest sailboat in the world?

101. What is the sailor’s term for loose equipment or cargo that is thrown about?

102. How many America’s Cup wins does Team New Zealand have?

103. What is the purpose of an anchor ball?

104. What type of wood is traditionally used for making masts?

105. What do you call the pair of ropes used to trim a square sail?

106. What does the term “tender” mean in sailing?

107. What’s the maximum number of hulls a ship can have in a regatta?

108. How many times has the United States won the America’s Cup?

109. What material is often used for modern sails due to its lightweight and strong characteristics?

110. What was the name of the first all-female crew to compete in the Whitbread Round the World Race?

111. What is the nautical term for ‘stop’?

112. What year was the first documented use of a compass in sailing?

113. What is the term for a two-masted sailboat?

114. What do you call the ropes used to support the mast?

115. What is the purpose of a jib sail?

116. What does the term “ahoy” traditionally mean?

117. What is the world’s largest sailing yacht by length?

118. What is the name of the flag used to represent the letter ‘A’ in maritime flag signaling?

119. What is the principle of ‘right of way’ in sailing called?

120. What’s the maximum number of degrees a sailing boat can typically point into the wind?

121. What term is used to describe a sudden, violent wind that is of longer duration than a squall?

122. What term refers to a ship that is anchored or tied to a dock?

123. What’s the world’s most expensive sailing yacht?

124. What’s the meaning of “Close-hauled”?

125. Which sea is the saltiest natural lake and is also at the lowest elevation on the surface of the Earth?

126. What does “Port Tack” mean?

127. How long did the first solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Earth by boat take?

128. Which sea monster from Norse mythology was rumored to terrorize sailors?

129. What type of sailing race is known as the “Everest of the seas”?

130. What does the term “leeward” mean?

131. What’s the oldest active trophy in international sport?

132. What is the art of designing, building, and maintaining ships called?

133. What does “Spinnaker” refer to?

134. What’s the heaviest boat to have ever sailed?

135. What does “Cleat” mean in sailing?

136. What do you call a boat that is floating freely, not anchored or moored?

137. What is the “Marie Celeste” famous for?

138. What is the meaning of “Jibe”?

139. How many sails does a Sloop usually have?

140. What does “EPIRB” stand for?

141. What is the tallest type of sailing ship?

142. Who wrote the famous sailing-related novel ‘Moby-Dick’?

143. What does “MOB” stand for in sailing?

144. What’s the name of the front sail on a ketch?

145. What does “Abeam” mean in sailing terminology?

146. What do you call the ropes on a ship?

147. Who was the youngest person to sail around the world solo?

148. What do you call a sailor’s bed on a ship?

149. What’s the primary use of a “Dinghy”?

150. What are Tell-Tales in the context of sailing?

151. What is the sport of trying to tip over small sailboats by leaning out as far as possible on the windward side?

152. What’s the name of the rope used to control the angle of the mainsail to the wind?

153. What is the primary purpose of a keel on a sailboat?

154. How do you call the room or space in a boat where the engine is located?

155. What is the term for the depth of a ship’s keel below the waterline?

156. What do you call the intersection of the bottom and the sides of a boat?

157. What is the world’s longest sailing race?

158. Which is the oldest commissioned warship afloat, although not currently in active service?

159. What do you call a boat designed for racing?

160. Which wind is named after the Latin word for ‘north’?

161. What’s the term for tying a knot in the end of a rope to prevent it from slipping through a hole or a pulley?

Land ho! You’ve sailed through our sea of questions like a true Captain! As your trivia voyage ends, we invite you to drop anchor at Trivia Bliss for even more quiz-tastic adventures ! Trust us, it’ll be off the hook!

About Anastasia Voloshina

Anastasia Voloshina is a professional writer, editor, and trivia enthusiast. With an extensive background in trivia writing, Anastasia has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to run a successful game night. Anastasia got her Marketing degree in a university in Prague, where she also took writing classes.

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Sailboat Parts Trivia Quiz

This is the basics to learning to sail. first you must learn the parts of a boat..

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From the Bow to the Stern: Boating Quiz

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One knot is 1.151 miles per hour, so if you're traveling at 10 knots, your equivalent speed would be 11.5 mph.

They typically have two (or more) engines that combine for 1,000 or more horsepower, making them capable of very high speeds.

The basic navigation (or running) lights are red, green and white.

Also known as "lake freighters," bulk carriers are large ships often found in the waters of the Great Lakes.

Only people who see your boat from the rear will be able to see the white running light.

You should always travel at a safe speed, but there are plenty of guidelines for boating — many boaters, however, simply don't know them.

The Harmsworth Cup was started in 1903 and is held only intermittently.

The 116-mile per hour average speed was much, much faster than the 19.5-mile per hour winning speed in 1903.

You can pass on either side, but either way, you should do so with care to avoid a collision.

PFDs, or personal flotation devices, are the all-important life jackets that should be standard equipment on every boat.

It means the boat isn't under command and may be having problems with steering or control.

You must yield to a boat that approaches you from your starboard side.

It was a demonstration sport in 1900 and became a men-only event in 1908.

The two-hull design of a catamaran cuts down on resistance and increases stability.

Patented in 1880, the motor was created by a French electrical engineer named Gustave Trouve, who also made the world's first electric vehicle.

With their gear deployed, fishing vessels have less maneuverability, meaning the other two types must do their part to stay clear.

Runabouts are well-rounded, small boats for all sorts of water activities, and they typically seat no more than eight people.

Sloops have one mast and two sails. They are the most common category of contemporary sailboat.

The word "gunnel" refers to the sides of the boat. The front of the boat is called the bow, and the rear is called the stern.

Simply turning on their motors immediately turns sailboats into a class of powered vessel, changing the rules that apply to them.

At 1.5 horsepower, it wasn't exactly blazing fast, but this technology was still very new when the engine was launched in 1909.

The left side is called port; the right side is starboard.

Jon boats are small and have flat bottoms, making them great for hunting and fishing even in very shallow water.

Boats may have one deck, but more than that and you'd be calling your boat a ship.

Sailboats have only single-colored running lights; the green light means you're seeing the starboard side.

The holding power of anchors varies greatly by weight and design, and choosing the right one is essential to safe boating.

Glass-reinforced plastic (fiberglass) exploded in popularity in the 1960s and are used in most contemporary consumer boats.

Both vessels should veer to the right to avoid a head-on collision.

They are usually sailboats with one primary hull and two smaller hulls, one to each side.

The engine is at the stern, meaning the anchor will only add more weight and potentially swamp your boat.

Sailing Trivia for Savvy Sailors

Sailing trivia is a great way to get your non-sailing friends interested in sailing. It’s also fun to challenge experienced sailors when you’re relaxing on deck or enjoying a beer at the club. There are books around that list tons of sailing trivia facts, and while you are learning to sail, cruise or race at Offshore Sailing School, you will find your instructor to be a font of information when it comes to obscure and fun sailing and maritime trivia. Here are a few tidbits to put in your sailing cap!

Above Board

Pirates would often hide much of their crew below the deck. Ships that displayed crew openly on the deck were thought to be honest merchant ships known as “above board.”

As the Crow Flies

The most direct route from one place to another without detours. Before modern navigational systems existed, British vessels customarily carried a cage of crows. These birds fly straight to the nearest land when released at sea, thus indicating where the nearest land was.

The last part of a rope or final link of chain. The end attached to the vessel, as opposed to the “working end” which may be attached to an anchor, cleat, other vessel, etc. Today the term is used to describe a final, painful, or disastrous conclusion (however unpleasant it may be).

Fits the Bill

A Bill of Lading was used to acknowledge receipt of goods and the promise to deliver them to their destination in good or like condition. Upon delivery, the goods were checked against the Bill of Lading to see if all was in order. If so, they “fit the bill.”

Footloose, and Footloose and Fancy-Free

The word comes from the name of the bottom of a sail – the foot – which must be attached to the boom. If it is not properly attached it may become “footloose” causing the vessel not to sail properly. Footloose and fancy-free have come to mean someone acting without commitment.

Freeze the Balls Off a Brass Monkey

Cannon balls where piled on deck beside the cannon, pyramid fashion, and retained in a ring called a brass monkey. If the weather was very cold the brass ring would contract faster than the iron cannon balls, thus causing some of them to topple. From this, the expression was, and is today, used to describe something which is very cold.

In the Doldrums

Doldrums is the name of an area of the ocean on either side of the equator. This area is known to have unstable and light wind conditions. A sailing ship caught in the Doldrums can be stranded due to lack of wind. Today the term is used to describe someone as being in low spirits, stagnated or depressed.

Letting the Cat Out of the Bag

This term comes from the old naval punishment of being whipped with a “cat o’ nine tails.” The whip was kept in a leather bag and when the sailors “let the Cat out of the bag” they had usually done something that would result in punishment. The term today means someone has said something that was not to be said, or revealed a secret.

Formerly a term that refers to a British sailor, now this is also used generally to indicate a British person. The term came from the seventeenth and eighteenth century practice of issuing limes to British sailors to combat scurvy (a vitamin C deficiency).

Mind your P’s and Q’s

Sailors would get credit at the taverns in port until they were paid. The barman would keep a record of their drinks on a chalkboard behind the bar. A mark was made under “P” for pint or “Q” for quart. On payday, the sailors were liable for each mark next to his name, and forced to “mind his P’s and Q’s.” Today the term means to remain well behaved.

No Room to Swing a Cat

During the whipping punishment using the “cat o’ nine tails,” all hands were called on deck to witness. With a full crew, the deck could be so crowded that the cat o’ nine tails was difficult to use without hitting other crew members. In other words, there was “no room to swing a cat.” Today the expression is used to indicate crowded or packed surroundings.

This originally nautical term was used as an officer’s whistle sound, denoting the completion of an above-deck work shift, and thereby giving permission to go below. This expression is now used to mean “be quiet” or keep quiet.”

Today this word means superior or fashionable and expensive. The word originated in colonial Boston where the trunks of wealthy passengers would carry the label “POSH,” which stood for “Portside Out Starboard Home.” This instructed the luggage handlers where to place the luggage to avoid intense sun exposure.

This word is most commonly used to describe a tall building. It originates from the term for a small, triangular-shaped sail that was set above the other sails on the old square-rigged vessels. They were so tall they seemed to scrape the sky.

Square Meal

This is an expression synonymous with a proper or substantial meal. It originated from the square platters that were used to serve meals aboard ships.

Three Sheets to the Wind

This expression meant that one did not have control of the vessel because one had lost control of the sheets or lines. Today the expression is used to refer to someone who is drunk or does not have control of himself or herself.

If you enjoyed our maritime trivia and sailing facts, consider one of our courses to learn more even about sailing! All Offshore Sailing School instructors have stories to tell and tidbits to impart. Contact us today for a fun-filled learning experience!

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One dead one rescued after boat rolls on 60th birthday fishing trip in Catlins, South Otago

One person has died and another was rescued after a boat overturned crossing the Catlins River bar this morning during a 60th birthday fishing trip, sparking a rescue mission amid rough conditions.

Police confirmed this afternoon that they had recovered a body following the boating mishap.

Shortly before noon, police earlier said a search was under way for the missing person after it received reports of a capsized vessel near Jacks Bay in South Otago about 10.40am.

Another person who was on board was spotted on some rocks nearby and later taken by rescue helicopter to Dunedin Hospital in moderate condition.

A helicopter assisted with an aerial search for the missing person, while Coastguard Bluff and Coastguard Dunedin volunteers and rescue vessels assisted in searching the water.

The body was found on a nearby beach. Searchers also located a second person on some rocks nearby, along with a dog.

Surat Bay Lodge co-owner Ester Johnson said this morning she could see, using binoculars, the boat overturned near the river bar, about 2km from Pounawea.

“It’s upside down,” she said.

Another boat was nearby assisting with the rescue, she said.

“It’s so rough.”

This afternoon, Johnson said she had been told one of the men had died as she saw rescue boats and emergency services returning.

She knew both men who were on the boat well, she said. They had been celebrating a 60th birthday of the man who had survived, she said.

“The boat is really smashed,” she said.

St John referred further inquiries on the status of the other person to police, who confirmed the recovery of the body shortly before 3.30pm.

Coastguard vessels from Bluff and Dunedin helped in the search, alongside the rescue helicopter.

Johnson said while conditions today were rough it was not too windy. It was the third time a boat had rolled crossing the bar in recent memory, she said.

She later said she saw the emergency services vehicles and rescue boat returning.

A Fire and Emergency NZ southern shift supervisor confirmed a crew from Owaka station had been sent to help with the rescue.

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Body was recovered yesterday afternoon by police.

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