A
point which marks a turn. Usually a turning buoy monitored
by a scoring boat, which is positioned about 50m from
the buoy.
CHINE-WALKING
When
the boat dances from side to side (the chines on the boat
are the area where the sides of the hull join the bottom).
It is usually caused by exceeding the speed the hull is
designed for or poor balancing of the boat.
DRIVER
The
race team member who steers and throttles the boat.
DRY PITS
The
dry land storage where the boats are kept on trailers
at an event.
FEATHERING
When
the boat becomes airborne, the driver or throttleman will
back off the power to prevent the engines running too
hot. Just before the boat hits the water the throttleman
will use more throttle to maintain the speed of the boat.
FUEL INJECTION
Fuel
is vapourised and sprayed into the engine cylinders. Fuel
injection is spontaneously created by the force of the
pressure created by the compression of the cylinders.
HULL
The
hollow shell of the boat. Offshore races are either use
vee bottoms (like the V24) which are single, V-shaped
hulls designed to slice through the water like a knife;
or catamarans which are dual hulled craft which are lifted
by the air that runs under the centre deck, similar to
a hydroplane.
KITING
When
the boat launches off a wave and raises the bow higher
that the crew intended.
MILLING AREA
the
area on the water where the teams assemble before the
start of the race. The boats gather at low speed off the
plane (bow down with no wake) until they get the signal
to follow the start boat.
NAVIGATOR
The
person responsible for plotting the race course and directing
the driver through the course. The navigator communicates
with the driver through radio mikes in the boat.
ORANGE SMOKE
This
signal, usually given by the start boat, signals three
minutes to the start of the race.
OUTDRIVE
The
drive system used by boats, like the V24, running inboard
engines. The outdrive is mounted on the transom and often
contains the steering mechanism of the boat.
PAD
The
flat section of the bottom of the boat near the back of
the boat. When a boat is properly trimmed and running
at race speed, it should ride on the cushion of air created
by the pad.
PLANE
The
boat is on the plane when it rises up out of the water
and runs on the pad with the boat almost horizontal to
the water.
PORPOISING
The
term used when the boat almost wallows through the water
rather like a dolphin (or porpoise) 'hops' in the water.
This is normally a result of improper trim settings, poor
weight distribution or bad design.
PORT
The
left hand side of the boat.
STARBOARD
The
right hand side of the boat.
STERN
The
back of the boat.
STUFF
A
dangerous accident when the boat launches off a wave and
'stuffs' the bow into the base of the next wave. Only
a closed cockpit, like the one on the V24, can save the
crew from potentially serious injuries.
TRANSOM
The
framework supporting the back of the boat.
TURNING BUOY
A
large buoy that marks a turn in a race.
WET PITS
Where
the boats launch. Access to this area is often restricted
to team officials.
