Jul 10 2008
Sailing Tips
There are a few basic sailing techniques one should know about. We won’t give a broad introduction into sailing, such as the physics of sailing and sailing terms, here. If you need more basic tips on sailing, please take a look at our book recommendations.
Sailing Techniques
- Steering and turning: When steering a sailboat, the method for changing direction depends on the direction of the wind.
- Trim: An important aspect of sailing is keeping the boat in trim. To achieve this a useful mnemonic (memory aid) is the phrase: Can This Boat Sail Correctly? This stands for Course to Steer, Trim, Balance, Sail, and Centreboard.
- Running: Sailing the boat within roughly 30 degrees either side of dead downwind is called a run. This is the easiest point of sail in terms of comfort, but it can also be the most dangerous. When sailing upwind, it’s easy to stop the boat by heading into the wind; a sailor has no such easy out when running.
- Reaching: When the boat is traveling approximately perpendicular to the wind, this is called reaching. A ‘beam’ reach is with the wind precisely at right angles to the boat, while a ‘close’ reach is halfway between beating and a beam reach, and a ‘broad’ reach is a little bit away from the wind.
- Sailing upwind: A basic rule of sailing is that it is not possible to sail directly into the wind—at least not for long. Generally speaking, a boat can sail 45 degrees off the wind. When a boat is sailing this close to the wind, it is close-hauled or beating (beating to weather). Since a boat cannot sail directly into the wind, but the destination is often upwind, one can only get there by sailing close-hauled with the wind coming from the port side (the boat is on port tack), then tacking (turning the boat through the eye of the wind) and sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side (the boat is on starboard tack). By this method, it is possible to reach that destination directly upwind.
- Reducing sail: An important safety aspect of sailing is to adjust the amount of sail to suit the wind conditions. As the wind speed increases the crew should progressively reduce the amount of sail. On a small boat with only jib and mainsail this is done by furling the jib and by partially lowering the mainsail, a process called reefing the main.
- Sail trimming: Basic control of the mainsail consists of setting the sail so that it is at an optimum angle to the wind, (i.e. no flapping at the front, and tell tales flowing evenly off the rear of the sail). Two or more sails are frequently combined to maximize the smooth flow of air. The sails are adjusted to create a smooth laminar flow over the sail surfaces. This is called the “slot effect”. The combined sails fit into an imaginary aerofoil outline, so that the most forward sails are more in line with the wind, whereas the more aft sails are more in line with the course followed. The combined efficiency of this sail plan is greater than the sum of each sail used in isolation.
- Hull trim: Hull trim is the adjustment of a boat’s loading so as to change its fore-and-aft attitude in the water. In small boats, it is done by positioning the crew. In larger boats the weight of a person has less effect on the hull trim, but it can be adjusted by shifting gear, fuel, water, or supplies.
- Heeling: A boat leaning over to one side under wind pressure, is said to be ‘heeling’. When any large ship is listing heavily, perhaps due to damage, it can also said to be heeling. As a sailing boat heels over beyond a certain angle, it begins to sail less efficiently.