Bridle: Two or more ropes extending from the leech of a sail to which the bowline is attached.
Cable length: 100 fathoms, or 200 yards. A cable length denoted on a chart is 607·5 feet.
To Check-sheets: To ease them off.
Claw: To beat to windward off a lee-shore, or generally to beat to windward when such is difficult on account of heavy weather.
Cleat: A piece of wood used to belay ropes to.
Clew: The after lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
Clew-line: A line used to hoist up the lower corners of a sail.
Close-hauled: When a vessel's sheets are hauled so flat that she sails as near the wind as possible. A schooner yacht will sail 4½ points off the wind, and a cutter about 4¼.
Coamings: Pieces of timber forming a frame on the deck round a hatchway or skylight.