PAGE 20 • SPRING 2005 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
ASA INSTRUCTOR TIP
By Capt. Robert McCreary • ASA National Education Coordinator
The Sailing Circle – Bridging the Gap between Seasons in the Sailing Environment
N
ow that you have had some experience sailing, Your goal is to become so familiar with the points of sail
you may have gotten a bit rusty over the winter, that you can point your "bow" from one point of sail to
or, if truth be told, you’re not as current with another, faster and faster, even selecting points of sail
your points of sail as you were at the end of last year’s out of order, so that knowing your relative position to the
sailing season. I always say that sailing eye of the wind becomes easy and natural.
is like riding a bicycle after you’ve done
it regularly. But until then, as
Try this: Points of Sail Exercise
beginners, we tend to require some
Phase 2- Maneuvering
remedial time to reacquaint ourselves
This will help you put tacking and jibing
with the dynamics of wind and sail trim
"into motion" as we did before with the
each time we go out.
points of sail:
Here’s an exercise that will help you
Step 1) Put your hands together and your
“bridge the gap“, putting into motion
arms out as before.
the theory of the sailing circle prior to
leaving the dock.
Step 2) Start head-to-wind as before. Fall
off slowly, saying "falling off, falling off,
Try this: Points of Sail Exercise Phase 1:
falling off."
The Sailing Circle
Step 3) As your bow (and your stern)
Step 1) While on the dock, or even at home, stand with
cross the eye of the wind, say "Jibing" out loud.
your palms together and your arms extended,
representing the bow of your "boat." Pick a stationary
Step 4) Continue back upwind in the circle, saying aloud
object (a dock piling, a moored boat, the fireplace in
"heading up, heading up , heading up." When you get to
your home, the TV, whatever) to represent the eye of the
the close reach, pause for a split second, then make a,
wind. Better yet, you can even use the actual wind itself!
quick, decisive "tack" through the dead zone and onto
the close reach on the other side. Continue this circle
Step 2) Start out "in irons," with your "bow" pointed
several times, reversing direction if you'd like.
directly into the wind. Now, begin to turn your body (your
"boat") through the points of sail, "falling off" to a close
Try this: Points of Sail Exercise Phase 3 Wind Shifts
haul, close reach, beam reach, broad reach, and then to
Try the above exercise to include shifts in wind direction.
a run. Name the points of sail out loud as you progress.
Remaining stationary, pick different object around you to
Step 3) "Head up" the other side of the circle, again
represent the eye of the wind and identify each “new”
calling out the points of sail: Broad reach, beam reach,
point of sail.
close reach, close hauled, and "in irons" as you are once
again pointed straight into the wind.
R
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