| Sailing terms beginning with C |
| Catamaran |
| A twin hulled craft |
|
| Centerboard |
| A pivoting board that prevents the boat from sliding sideways. |
|
| Centerline |
| The center of the boat: from the stern to the bow. |
|
| Chart |
| A nautically specialized map. |
|
| Chine |
| The angle between the side and bottom of a boat. |
|
| Cleat |
| A fitting for securing a line. It can be wooden, metal or nylon. |
|
| Clew |
| An aft corner of a triangular sail. |
|
| Close Hauled |
| Sailing as close as possible to the wind |
|
| Cockpit |
| The rear boat area from where the crew operates the boat. Also refers to the area below decks. |
|
| Crew |
| People who operate a boat. The crew in a two man sailing dinghy usually refers to the person operating the jib sail /spinaker. |
|
| Cringle |
| Rope loop or eye formed in sail or net. |
|
| Cuddy |
| Shelter on a boat not large enough to be a cabin. |
