This glossary describes basic sailing concepts translated from English into Polish. It is a mirror image of the glossary in Polish.
Yacht Construction
This subsection contains concepts describing the construction of a yacht.
Spaces on the yacht
- Saloon - Mesa
- Galley - Kambuz
- Cabin - Kajuta
- Head - Kingston
Hull
- Bow - Dziub
- Stern - Rufa
- Starboard - Prawa burta
- Portside (Portboard) - Lewa burta
- Cleat - Knaga
- Rudder - Ster
- Helm - Rumpel
- Steering Wheel - Koło sterowe
- Thruster - Ster strumieniowy
- Mast - Maszt
- Keel - Kil
- Sword/Flipper/Daggerboard - Miecz
- Locker - Bakista
- Deck - Pokład
- Bilge - Zęza
- Shackle - Szekla
- Chock - Kluza
- Clam Cleat - Knaga zaciskowa
- Hull - Kadłub
- Top Mast - Stenga
Equipment
- Winch - Kabestan
- Winch handle - Korba do kabestanu
- Fender - Odbijacz
- Boat hook - Bosak
- Anchor - Kotwica
- Sprayhood - Szprycbuda
- Bimini - Bimini
- Depthteller - Głębokościomierz
- Speedteller (log) - Log (prędkościomierz)
- Bilge pump - Pompa zęzowa
- Dinghy - Ponton
- Gangway - Trap
- Oars - Wiosła
- Life jacket - Kamizelka ratunkowa
- Life ring - Koło ratunkowe
- Liferaft - Tratwa ratunkowa
Rigging
- Mooring line - Cuma
- Bow line - Cuma dziobowa
- Stern line - Cuma rufowa
- Spring - Szpring
- Halyard - Fał
- Downhaul - Kontrafał
- Boom - Bom
- Forstay - Sztag
- Backstay - Achtersztag
- Kicking Strap - Obciągacz bomu
- Clew - Szot
- Bight - Buchta
Sails
- Jib - Fok
- Main Sail - Grot
- Main Sail battens - Listwy grota
- Reefing sails - Refowanie żagli
- Luff - Lik przedni
Quay and Sailing Directions
- Bollard - Poler
- Pier/Jetty - Pomost
- Mark/Buoy - Boja
- Mooring Buoy - Boja cumownicza
Points of Sailing - Kursy jachtu względem wiatru

- Starboard tack - Prawy hals
- Portside tack - Lewy hals
- Windward - Strona nawietrzna
- Alee - Strona zawietrzna
| English | Angle to the wind | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Close reach | ~45-70° | Bajdewind |
| Beam reach | ~90° | Półwiatr |
| Broad reach / Quartering wind | ~110-160° | Baksztag |
| Running / Dead before the wind | 180° | Fordewind |
Close-hauled courses
Close reach (By the Wind) - Bajdewind
The sharpest possible course a vessel can sail without losing sail power. The angle to the wind is approx. 45-80°. Sails are trimmed in tight. This course has the greatest heel and the lowest speed.
Beam reach - Półwiatr
The wind blows from the side at an angle of approx. 90°. The boat’s heel decreases while its speed increases. The sails should be eased more than on a close reach.
Off-wind courses
Broad Reach / Quartering / Wind on the Quarter - Baksztag
The wind blows from behind at an angle, greater than 90° but less than 180°. The sails should be eased well out. Aboard the boat it may feel as though you are sailing slower due to the reduced apparent wind. In practice, however, this is the fastest point of sail on Sloop-rigged yachts.
Dead before the wind - Fordewind
The wind blows exactly from the stern (180°). Sails are let out as far as possible, sometimes set “wing-on-wing”, one on each side of the forestay.
Sailing Commands
- Take in (…) - Wybierz (…)
- Trim in (…) - Wybieraj (…)
- Let go (…) - Luz (…)
- Slack off (…) - Luzuj (…)
- Take a turn on the winch (…) - Załóż (…) na kabestan
- Reef the sails - Refuj żagle
- Hoist the sail - Podnieś żagiel
- Ready about - Do zwrotu przez sztag
- Helm’s a-lee! - Zwrot przez sztag!
- Ready to jibe - Do zwrotu przez rufę
- Gybe-ho! - Zwrot przez rufę!
- Man overboard - Człowiek za burtą
- Watch - Wachta