Points of Sailing

Points of sailing: angle between a sailboat’s heading and true wind.

Running

A dead run is when the wind is blowing directly from behind. Sailing on a dead run is unstable Sailing on a dead-run is also not very efficient as the maximum wind pressure on one side of the sails together with minimal rig-induced stability through waves leads to reduction in speed.

When running one should let the mainsail out at 90 degrees to the centreline. However if you are using an unstayed or mini-shroud rig letting the mainsail out at 90 degrees make the boat unstable which usually results in death rolls. A death roll is when the boat capsizes to windward.

Goose-winging the jib increases efficiency of jib as mainsail will steal the wind from the jib. Goose-winging means holding the jib on the opposite side of the mainsail.

Sailing by the lee is sailing with the wind blowing on the leeward side of the stern in a near dead-run angle. If you sail by the lee the jib will be powered up. This will result in increased performance. However if you bear too far a gybe will occur which can result in capsize.

Reaching

Reach: sailing with the wind blowing across the boat.

Reach can be:

- broad: wind from behind;

- beam reach: wind straight in from the side;

- close reach: wind from ahead.

If you are in a dead run, push tiller away to luff or pulled in to gybe on to the opposite side and from there head up to a broad reach. In a broad reach the wind blows at an angle of around 45 degrees over the transom. This is considered to be the fastest point of sailing.

To go to a beam reach luff i.e. push tiller away. In a beam reach the wind blows at about right angle to the boat. The sheets (main and jib) should be sheeted in to accommodate the change in wind angle.

To enter a close reach luff. The wind here is blowing at around 45 degrees over the bows. Sails should be sheeted further in.

Sailing upwind

In upwind conditions you should point the boat as high as possible (point) towards the wind without making the sails luff which reduces power. You have to zig-zag by changing tacks (beating) if you want to reach a place when going upwind. When you tack you are avoiding the no-go zone. The no-go zone is when the wind blows from bow to stern directly down the centreline.

Downward variations

To increase speed in downwind conditions one must make rapid changes to the point of sailing in conditions change. Changes include waves, and change in wind strength.

Which tack?

Port tack is when the wind blows on the left side of the boat and sails. In this case you will be sitting on the windward side. Red is a colour used to signify port.

Starboard is when the wind blows to the right side of the boat and sails.

Sail sheeting angles

In dinghies or boats with slow or modest performance apparent wind does not vary a lot compared to true wind so sails should be sheeted according to the wind angle. However in fast boats the wind gets closer to the centreline of the boat as wind increases. The sheeting of the sails should match the apparent wind. Thus the sails are pulled in for nearly all points of sailing.

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