Peeling (---) : Changing from one spinnaker to another.

Pitman: Crewmember who controls the halyards and mast winches and assists the mastman.

Pole (tangon) : see Spinnaker.

Pole Port (Bâbord) : The boat's left side when looking forward (contr. starboard).

Port Tack : Sailing upwind where the wind is coming over the left-hand side of the boat.

Pre-start maneuvers (pré-départ) : Tactical maneuvers in the water carried out with the intention of being in the best possible position for the starting signal.

Protocol: A formal document that further defines the rules for the America's Cup.

Race committee: The on-water officials responsible for setting the course and for starting and finishing the race in accordance with the race rules and regulations.

Reaching (largue) : All angles against the wind that are not beating or dead downwind [a close reach has the wind forward of abeam; a beam reach is when the wind is perpendicular to the boat; and a broach reach is when the wind is aft of abeam]. [depuis 1995, le parcours des régates de l'AC ne comportent plus de bords de largue - reaching leg].

Reef, to (prendre un ris): To decrease a sail's size.

Right-of-way (prioritaire) : See Regulation.

Rig-rigging (gréement) : The general term used to describe a yacht's mast and sail combination.

Rudder (safran) : A flat blade hanging vertically below the waterline near the rear of the boat used for steering.

Run (---): The downwind legs of a race.

Sheet (écoute) : A line that controls sails and adjusts their angle of attack and their trailing edge.

Shiver, to : see to blanket.

Shroud (hauban): A cable or rod that supports the mast sidewise [shrouds run from the chainplates at deck level on the port and starboard side, to the hounds just below the top of the mast].

Slam-dunk (---) : The act of tacking on another boat's wind in sufficiently close proximity to prevent the other boat from tacking away.

Spar (espar) : A collective term referring to a boat's mast, boom and spinnaker pole.

Spinnaker (---) : The large lightweight sail used when going down wind

Spinnaker Pole (tangon) : A pole used to extend the spinnaker away from the boat

Spreader (Barre de flèche) : Small spars extending toward the sides from one or more places along the mast. The shrouds cross the end of the spreaders, enabling the shrouds to better support the mast.

Starboard (tribord) : The right side of a boat when facing forward (contr. port).

Starboard Tack : Sailing upwind where the wind is coming over the right hand side of the boat

Stay (étai) : A wire that supports the mast in a fore/aft position.

Stern (jupe) : The rear of the boat.

Tack: 1) the lower forward corner of the sail (amûre)- 2) To change direction relative to wind direction (usually in a zigzag manner over the duration of an upwind leg), such as changing from having the wind on the right to having the wind on the left. (opposite of jibing) (virer de bord).

Tactician (tacticien): Crew member that plots race strategy, course changes and sail selection.

Tender (---) : A small boat used to transport equipment and crew from shore to the ACC [each syndicate has a chase boat that serves a variety of functions : it tows the racing boat out to the course, follows the boat around the course...].

Traveller (---) : A fitting that slides in a track and is used to alter the angle of the sheets.

Trim, to (régler la voile) : To adjust the sail to make it the right shape and angle to the wind.

Winch (---) : A device used to help adjust lines under load (Syn. Coffee-grinder).

Wind ahead (vent debout) : Sailing against the wind at an angle a certain yacht can achieve (syn. upwind).

Windward (au vent) : Toward the direction from which the wind is coming.

Y flag (pavillon Y): A flag flown when a team feels their competitor has committed a foul. It prompts the umpires to issue an immediate ruling. The umpires signal either no foul, or a flag corresponding to the fouling boat, which then must perform a penalty.