Bands.—Pieces of canvas sewn across a sail to strengthen it to sustain the reef-points, and called reef-bands.
Bar.—A shoal, usually found at the mouths of rivers and harbors that are subject to much current.
Bare Poles.—Having no sail up, on account of the severity of the wind: hence "scudding under bare poles," that is, running before the wind with no sail set.
Beams.—Pieces of timber across the yacht under the decks, bound to the sides by knees. A yacht is said to be on her "beam-ends" when she is hove down by any force, so that the ends of the beams point towards the ground.
Forward of the Beam.—When the object or wind is at some position between abeam and ahead.
Before the Beam.—When the wind or object bears on some point forward of the beam, but within the right angle formed by the keel and a line across the middle of the yacht.
Abaft the Beam.—The opposite to Before the Beam.
Bearings.—The direction of any object by observation of the compass; also to any object, as the lighthouse bears abaft the beam.
Beating to Windward.—Advancing in the direction from which the wind proceeds by a series of manœuvres called "tacking."
Becalmed.—Having no wind to fill the sails. One sail is also said to becalm another when the wind is aft.