For those new to the maritime world, the terminology can be difficult to understand. Not only are there specific words for everything, but sometimes the pronunciation is unexpected. Below are some basic nautical vocabulary words plus a game to help practice them!
Bow – Front end of a sailing vessel [Pronunciation: Rhymes with COW]
Deck – Permanent, floor-like structure on a sailing vessel
Hull – Body of a sailing vessel
Port – Left-hand side of a sailing vessel when facing forward toward the bow
Stern – Back end of a sailing vessel
Lines – the term for ropes with a specific use
Mast – A tall, vertical pole rising from a sailing vessel’s deck*
Sail – Strong, flexible piece of fabric that catches the wind to propel a sailing vessel across water
Starboard – Right-hand side of a sailing vessel when facing forward toward the bow [Pronunciation: STAR-BIRD]
Yard – A horizontal pole attached to the mast and holding a sail*
*Detailed Definitions:
Mast – A straight piece of timber or a hollow cylinder of wood or metal set up vertically or nearly so and supporting yards, booms, derricks, or gaffs. In fore-and-aft rigged vessels, each mast is commonly made of two parts called the lower mast and the topmast. On large sailing vessels, the masts are made up of several lengths called lower mast, topmast, topgallant mast, and royal mast. Masts are supported from forwards by stays, from sides by shrouds (rigging), and from aft by backstays.
Yard – The large wooden or metal spar crossing the masts horizontally or diagonally, from which a sail is set.
Captain Says Game Set-up
Captain Says
(A nautical version of Simon Says)
This game was first tested with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in physical education classes at Searsport Elementary School! Try it out. Interested in a field trip or outreach program from Penobscot Marine Museum? Click here for more information.
Set-up: Put out cones and/or bases in the shape of a ship hull. Add signs for PORT, STARBOARD, BOW, and STERN.
Instructions:
- Have all players stand inside the ship. Review the vocabulary words. Have the “Captain” call out instructions:
- Captain says run to starboard
- Captain says run to port
- Captain says run to bow
- Captain says run to stern
- The players must do as the Captain says. If they do not, they are out.
- The Captain can also call out a command without starting with “Captain says.” In this case, the players should not move and if they do, they are out.
- After the players are comfortable with the initial 4 commands, add a few more fun ones!
- Captain says swab the deck [get down on the ground and mime washing the deck]
- Captain says climb aloft [mime climbing a rope ladder]
- Captain says haul the line [line up in the middle of the ship and mime pulling a rope]
- Captain says he gave you a command [yell “aye, aye, sir]