By Henry Sanders
Whether you’ve sailed recently or haven’t been out in awhile, it’s always helpful to revisit some of the core points of sail concepts.
There are three primary categories: beating upwind, reaching across the wind, and running away from the wind. Each one of these points has a distinct sail trim and boat handling characteristic.
When beating upwind, also known as sailing close-hauled, the boat should be approximately 40-45 degrees off the wind, and the sails should be trimmed in tightly to maintain efficient airflow. When sailing upwind, you cannot go straight to your destination, you have to maintain a zigzag pattern by tacking back and forth. This zig-zag process is called “beating.” If your boat is pointed directly into the wind, you have entered the “no-sail zone” and will no longer move forward. If this occurs, steer your boat off the wind and adjust your sails so they are no longer luffing. You should start picking up speed again once you are out of the “no-sail zone.”
As the boat turns away from the wind, it enters a reach, which means the wind is coming from the side of the boat rather than directly ahead or directly behind. There are three types of reaches: close reach, beam reach, and broad reach. During a close reach, the wind comes from forward of the beam, or roughly 60 – 80 degrees off the bow. For example, if the wind is coming from the northeast and the boat heads east, that is approximately a close reach.
A beam reach has the wind directly from the side, or at about 90 degrees from the bow. This is typically your fastest point of sail since the sails produce the most aerodynamic efficiency. Your sails should be eased with the boom extended partway outward, and the jib opened wider.
At a broad reach the wind comes from behind the beam or roughly 100 – 160 degrees off the bow. This is when you are sailing mostly downwind, but not directly with the wind behind you. Your sails should be eased far out while the boom swings well away from the center. Be careful you do not accidentally jibe.
When running away from the wind, the boat is sailing with the wind coming directly behind it. The stern of your boat will face toward the wind, and the wind will push from behind with your sails eased all the way out. On a downwind run, the boat relies more on direct wind pressure and drag force. This can make you feel like you are going slower than you are since the apparent wind has decreased significantly.
Another great sailing refresher is remembering the difference between port and starboard tack. A tack refers to the side from which the wind crosses the boat. When sailing on a starboard tack, the wind comes across the right (starboard) side and the sails are pushed toward the left (port) side. When sailing on port tack, the wind comes across the left side, and the sails are pushed toward the right (starboard) side.
Having this knowledge fresh in your mind will help you feel more comfortable on the water! If you are unsure about any of these topics I would recommend going back and looking at the American Sailing book, it is very well organized and packages the information well. Happy sailing!