CLOSE
HAULED is as close to the
wind as the boat will sail (say about 45°)
'Ib sail towards the wind a boat must TACK
or zig-zag. (Also known as beating.)
STARBOARD TACK
is when the wind conies over the
starboard side.
PORT TACK is
when the wind comes over the port side.
TO TACK
OR GO ABOUT is to change
from one tack to the other by putting the bow through the wind.
FINE OR
CLOSE REACH is a
course between close-hauled and a beam reach.
TO LUFF-UP is
to steer the boat towards the wind.
TO BEAR AWAY
is to steer away from the wind.
BEAM REACHis when the wind comes
over the beam (ie. 90°).
TO GYBEis to let
the mainsail change sides by putting the stern through the wind.
BROAD REACH is when
the wind comes over the quarter.
DEAD RUN
OR RUNNING BEFORE THE WIND is
when the wind is blowing over the stern.
LOOK UP
WATCH THE
WIND INDICATOR!
SAILS
Headsails can be attached to the stay by a
grooved foil (A) or clipped on with hanks (B).
The mainsail can be made
smaller (reefed) when the windspeed increases. But the headsails (below)
are changed to match the weather conditions.
SPINNAKER
Set flying on a pole.
CRUISING
SHUTE
Fixed to a stay top and bottom.
NO
1 GENOA
Headsail that overlaps the mast
NO
2 GENOA
NO
1 JIB
NO
2 JIB
NO
3 JIB
As the numbers get bigger
the sails get smaller.
In very rough weather conditions these
very small sails can be set.
STOWING SAILS
Small headsails can be rolled (A)
from head to tack and then (B) tack to clew, this
minimi creases. Larger sails (C) can be flaked down, but this is usually only
possible in harbour.
STOWING AT SEA
Sails can be folded at sea but
most people simply stuff them into a sailbag.
1. Secure the bag so it doesn't
blow away.
2. Remove the sheets and halyard and secure them.
3. Leave the sail hanked to the
stay and start stuffing the sail into the bag clew first.
4. Unhank the sail starting at the head.
5. Make sure the tack is near
the opening of the bag as this is the first corner to be rigged when bending
on a sail. Some people pass the draw string through the tack to make
identification easier at night.
BENDING ON SAILS
1. The tack is pulled out of the
bag and fixed on first.
2. The sail is then hanked on starting at
the tack and working up to the head. TAKE CARE NOT TO GET THE
LUFF TWISTED.
3. The sheets are attached with small
loop and long tail bowlines. Make sure they are led back in the
correct manner.
4. Prior to hoisting, the halyard can be
attached and held down by hanking the top hank to the rail.
5. The sail can be either lashed to the
rail and folded so the rain runs off or stowed hanked on in its bag (6).
HOISTING
1. The bow man checks the hanks,
sheets and halyard, gets to weather and
signals it's OK to hoist.
2. The crew on the halyard LOOKS UP (A) and checks the halyard is not
twisted around the forestay or fouling the spreaders (B).
3. If it is clear, the halyard is
hauled in smartly either by pulling directly or by taking a turn-around the
halyard winch (C).
4. Take several turns around the
winch and use the winch handle to tension the luff of the sail. (Luff tension is
right when horizontal luff creases disappear but vertical creases are not formed
when the sail is sheeted in.) Coil and cleat the halyard (see page 35).
CHANGING HElDSAILS
1. Drag the bagged sail along the windward
sidedeck and make sure you are hooked on in heavy weather.
2. Hank on the new sail (starting at
the tack) below the first hank of the old sail. Secure the bag.
3. Tension is kept on the halyard by
letting it slip around the winch as the sail is pulled down.
4. Pull on the luff of the old sail to
lower it. Remove the halyard and secure it. Transfer the sheets to the
new sail.
5. Bag or stow the old sail and unhunk.
Transfer the halyard to the new sail and hoist when ready.
HEADFOILS
Insert
half a metre before hoisting
Some boats have headsails
which run up grooves in a HEADFOIL.
This makes for very quick sail changes
especially when racing.
Sails can often be kept in their special
bag while the tack (I) and
sheets are attached. The bolt rope (2) is fed through the pre-feeder CD
and into the foil (4).
The halyard (5) is fixed on.
The sail tie (6) and bag are removed
ready for hoisting.
The new sail can be hoisted inside or
outside the old one and if the halyards and sheets are right, a
fast TACK CHANGE can be made.
Flake the old sail down on deck and
secure it with a sail tie. Fold it like this so the TACK (1),
HEAD (2) and CLEW (U) are readily accessible in the bag. Bags vary in design,
but usually have a full length zip which can sometimes just be pulled apart.
ALWAYS TIE THE BAG TO THE BOAT.
