Fairlead

Furl

To roll or gather up a sail so it stows neatly on a boom, stay, or inside a spar.

Fake (flake)

To lay a rope down in wide, overlapping loops so it can run out without snagging.

Fend off

To push the vessel clear of an obstacle by hand, foot, or boat hook.

Fractional rig

A rig in which the forestay meets the mast below the masthead (e.g. 7/8 or 9/10 of mast he…

Fetch

The distance of open water, to windward, over which the wind has blown — the longer the fe…

Forepeak

The compartment in the bow below deck — in cruising yachts often a cabin, in older designs…