Sailing Practice

Sailing practice means manoeuvring the boat under sail. This includes setting and dousing the sails, steering on courses to the wind, and all manoeuvres for changing the wind direction relative to the boat.

Points of Sail

The course sailed is named after the angle between the wind and the boat's axis:

Course Angle to the Wind
Into the wind 0° – 45° (cannot be sailed)
Close-hauled approx. 45°
Beam reach approx. 90°
Broad reach approx. 135°
Running approx. 180°

The sector directly into the wind is called the no-go zone or tacking arc, in which a sailing boat cannot make headway.

Tacking

In a tack the bow of the boat passes through the wind. The boat changes from a close-hauled course on one tack to a close-hauled course on the other tack.

Procedure:

  1. Warn the crew with "Ready about?"
  2. On the command "Hard a-lee!" put the helm to leeward.
  3. As soon as the headsail backs, release the old sheet.
  4. Sheet in on the new side.

The tack is the standard manoeuvre for working to windward.

Gybing

In a gybe the stern passes through the wind. The boat changes from one downwind course to the other. Because the mainsail crosses to the other side with full force, the gybe is more demanding and, in strong winds, more dangerous than the tack.

Procedure:

  1. Warn with "Ready to gybe?"
  2. Sheet in the mainsail so that the boom can be brought across in a controlled way.
  3. On the command "Gybe-ho!" turn the helm to windward.
  4. After the boom has crossed, ease the mainsheet in a controlled way.

Heaving Up Into the Wind

When heaving up into the wind, the boat is turned head to wind so that the sails luff and the boat comes to a stop. This is used for stopping at a dock, at a buoy, or for the man-overboard manoeuvre.

Reefing

As the wind increases, the sail area must be reduced so that the boat remains under control. In reefing, the mainsail is reduced in size with the help of reef lines. Rule of thumb: better to reef one step too early than too late.

Man-Overboard Manoeuvre

If a person goes overboard, act immediately:

  1. Shout "Man overboard!", throw rescue gear.
  2. One person is detailed to keep the person in sight at all times.
  3. Sail a half circle and return to the person on a luff approach in an upwind arc, finishing with a heave-to.
  4. Pick up the person on the leeward side alongside.