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Sailing Basics

University of Kansas Sailing ClubFall 2012

Parts of a Sailboat

Sailing Terminology

Points of Sail

Sail Trim

Tacking

Jibing

Rules of the Road

Preparing to Sail

Overview:

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Parts of the

Boat:

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Not Shown Main Halyard

Jib Halyard

Boomvang

Tiller Extension

Hiking Straps

Parts of the Boat:

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Two sails: Main Sail, Jib Sail

The Outhaul pulls the Main Sail out.The Cunningham stretches the Main Sail down.

Sheet: a line that controls a sail Main Sheet, Jib Sheet

Halyards: a line that hoists (pulls up) a sail Main Halyard, Jib Halyard

The Rudder changes the direction of the boat. The skipper uses the Tiller to control the Rudder

Sailing Terminology:

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Bow: the front end of the boat

Stern: the back end of the boat

Forward: direction towards the bow

Aft: direction towards the stern

Port: left

Starboard: right

Windward: closer towards the wind

Leeward: farther away from the wind

“In Irons”: pointed into the wind, no forward motion

Points of Sail:

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Sailboats can not sail directly into the wind. There is a 90-degree zone 45-degrees to either side of the wind known as the No-Sail Zone. A boat in the No-Sail Zone is “In Irons”.

The following diagram shows the basic points of sail. Under sail, a boat is on either a starboard or a port tack. On a starboard tack, the wind comes over the right side of the boat; on a port tack, the wind comes over the port side of the boat.

Notice that as the boat points further away from the wind, the sails are eased out. When the boat points close to the wind, the sails are sheeted in close to the center of the boat. This is called sail trim.

Points of Sail:

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Sail Trim:

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A sailor adjusts, or “trims” the sails to sail the boat as efficiently as possible. We can read tell-tales to adjust our sail trim. Tell-tales are usually pieces of yarn that have been attached to the sails. On the Main Sail, tell-tales are attached to the outside end of the sail. On the Jib sail, a tell-tale is attached on each side.

Sails are trimmed correctly when tell-tales fly back straight. If the windward (interior) tell-tale is flapping, the sail trim is too loose and needs to be sheeted in. If the leeward (exterior) tell-tale is flapping, the sail trim is too tight and needs to be eased out.

Sail Trim:

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A sailing maneuver to change direction, during which the BOW of a sailboat crosses through the wind

Skipper prepares crew to tack

Skipper begins the tack Sails pass through the

wind in a smooth motion Skipper & crew move to

the other side of the boat Skipper & crew trim sails

Tacking:

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A sailing maneuver to change direction during which the STERN of the boat crosses through the wind.

The skipper and crew go through the same moves used when tacking

CAUTION: unlike during a tack, the sail will cross the wind in one swift motion. It is important to be aware of the boom to avoid injury

Jibing:

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Right-of-Way: The rights to stay a course A boat that does not have right-of-way must give way (change

course) to accommodate the boat that does have rights

Rule 1: Boats under power must give way to those that are notRule 2: Sailboats have right-of-way over motor-powered boatsRule 3: Boats on a starboard tack have right-of-way over boats on a port tackRule 4: A leeward boat has right-of-way over a windward boatRule 5: A boat that is overtaking another boat must give way.

Regardless of any rules, sailors have a responsibility to avoid collisions at all costs.

Rules of the Road:

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Dress accordingly: Wear clothes that will dry quickly. Synthetics are best Wear shoes. If you don’t have dinghy boots, wear an

old pair of shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Flip flops are bad.

Things to bring: Water Spare clothes & towel (just in case) Sunglasses or a hat

Your First Sail:

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