basskisser wrote:
DSK wrote:
If I'm sailing north, and the wind is from the starboard, then I'm leaning
left.


basskisser wrote:
list3
n.
An inclination to one side, as of a ship; a tilt.


Sailboats heel, motorboats list.

Actually, that's still not 100% correct. As I understand it,
"heeling" is what any boat does when it leans from wind
pressure or some other temporary force. 'Listing' is leaning
to one side due to uneven loading, flooding, or perhaps a
big dent in the hull.

DSK

list3 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lst)
n.
An inclination to one side, as of a ship; a tilt.

You're correct, sort of.

A boat can (and most do) "list" to one side or another at least
slightly even when not underway. Heeling is a description of an
attitude frequently adopted by a sailboat during certain points of
sail. If a sailboat is listing in its slip, it isn't heeling.

From "The Sailor's Illustrated Dictiionary" by Lenfesty and Lenfesty
(highly recommended, by the way)

Heel: 1) the base of a mast. 2) the after end of the keel. If a ship
turns on its heel it has a very short turning radius. 3) The convex
section or elbow of a bar. 4) The inboard end of a bowsprit,

and now the relevant definition:

5) A temporary transverse angle of inclination of a vessel to one side
or the other such as during a roll or caused by the wind. If the
inclination is caused by an internal force, the vessel is said to list.

Seems like the key factors a internal vs. external force, temporary
or prevailing condition.



For "list"

the noun: A transverse angle of inclination caused by internal forces

the verb: Said of a vessel when it leans to one side due to internal
forces such as water or cargo being out of balance. This is not the
same as heeling, which is leaning caused by extermal pressure such as
wind or grounding.



Seems like any boat could technically heel, (especially when aground)
but it is only considered desirable when under sail.