Points of sail

Sailboats can sail upwind, but they cannot sail directly into the wind. If you want to sail to a point directly upwind from you You must sail a ‘zig-zag’ course to get there. This Point of Sail is known as “closehauled.” View the following presentation to learn more about trimming and points of sail.

No Go Zone

Yep, it is no go zone. You can really sail into the wind.  Your sails will start luffing and your boat will come to a halt. You can sail in any direction except directly into the wind. If you need to sail upwind you have to repeatedly tack your boat 90 degrees through the no go zone which is called “beating to windward”.

  • If you want to stop my sailboat, you direct the boat right into the wind.
  • When you want to put the sails up or down, you direct my boat into the wind.

1. Close Hauled

Quite simply, as close to the wind as you can sail! Make sure your sails are pulled in tight. This is the position you tack to and from when beating to windward.

2. Close Reach

A little bit further out than close hauled. You will need to ease the sheets out slightly.

3. Beam Reach

The wind is at a 90 degree angle to the boat (on your beam). This is the easiest point of sail and you should set the sails half way out.

4. Broad Reach

Ease the sheets out even more when heading further downwind.

5. Run

The most unstable point of sail to steer with the wind directly behind you.  Please be careful with this point of sail as the boom might go from one direction to another and might hurt people on its way. 

 

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