What are the points of sail?
The points of sail are the names for a boat’s heading relative to the wind: the no-go zone (where she can’t sail), close-hauled, close reach, beam reach, broad reach and run. Each one needs the sails set differently.
What is the no-go zone in sailing?
The no-go zone is the range of directions, roughly 45 degrees either side of the wind, in which a sailing boat can’t sail. Pointed into it, the sails flap instead of filling, and the boat slows down and stops.
What does close-hauled mean in sailing?
Close-hauled means sailing as close to the wind as the boat will go, usually about 45 degrees to it, with the sails pulled in tight. It is the point of sail used to make progress upwind.
What is the difference between a close reach, a beam reach and a broad reach?
They are the three reaching points of sail. On a close reach the wind is about 60 degrees off the bow; on a beam reach it comes straight over the side; on a broad reach it comes from behind the side. The sails are let further out from each one to the next.
What is running in sailing?
Running means sailing with the wind directly behind the boat, with the sails let right out. It feels calm, but it needs care, because if you steer a little too far the wind can get behind the mainsail and swing the boom across in an accidental gybe.
What does heading up and bearing away mean?
Heading up, also called luffing up, means turning the boat towards the wind. Bearing away means turning away from it. As you head up you pull the sails in, and as you bear away you let them out.
How do you steer a sailboat with a tiller?
Push the tiller the opposite way to the way you want the bow to go: push it towards the sails to turn towards the wind, and pull it towards you to turn away. Use small, smooth movements, and remember the rudder only works when the boat is moving.
How do you tack a sailboat?
Sail close-hauled at full speed, check the water is clear, call “Ready about” and wait for the crew to answer “Ready”, then call “Lee-oh” and push the tiller firmly towards the sails. Turn steadily through the wind, swap the jib to the new side, and settle close-hauled on the new tack.
How do you gybe a sailboat?
Bear away from a broad reach to a run, call “Ready to gybe”, and pull the mainsheet in to bring the boom towards the middle. Call “Gybe-oh” and turn slowly until the stern passes through the wind and the boom crosses. Ease the mainsheet out on the new side, steady the boat and bring the jib across.
What does it mean to be in irons, and how do you get out?
A boat is in irons when she has stopped pointing into the wind, with the sails flapping, and can’t be steered because no water is flowing past the rudder. To get out, back the jib by holding it out against the wind so it pushes the bow round, then sail away on the new tack.