Hank

A piston or snap hook used to attach the luff of a foresail at intervals along the forestay.

Test your knowledge

Know your nautical terms? Play the free SkipperCheck daily maritime quiz — COLREGs, navigation, VHF radio, seamanship. Earn points, climb the global leaderboard.

Play the Daily Quiz →

Related H-terms

Hatch

A large, usually closable opening in the deck or coachroof for access, ventilation, or lig…

Heading

The direction the bow is pointing, expressed in degrees.

Holding tank

An on-board tank that stores sewage from the heads until it can be pumped out ashore or, w…

Head to wind

The moment when the bow is pointing directly into the wind — for instance, the centre of a…

Headed

A windshift in which the wind moves forward on the boat, forcing the helm to bear away or …

Halyard

A line used to hoist, hold up, or lower a sail.

← Back to full glossary