GETTING OUT OF IRONS


At some point while you are learning to sail, you will tack the boat too slowly through the wind and get stuck in the No-Sail (No-Go) Zone. You are now in irons. The sails are luffing, the boat slows to a stop, and the rudder no longer steers the boat. It’s a helpless feeling, but easily correctable.


3 IN IRONS


The boat is pointed directly into the wind, both sails are luffing, the boat has come to a dead stop, and the rudder doesn’t work since water has to be flowing past it to steer the boat.


WIND 1


2


Here’s how to get out of irons:


1Sheet in one of the jib sheets (in this case the one on the port side) until the wind blowing over the bow makes the sail billow back toward you. This will push the boat backward and also push the bow off to one side. When the boat starts to move backward, move the tiller in the same direction that the bow is turning (in this case to the starboard) to help the boat turn more quickly.


2 When the wind is coming over the side of the boat, release the jib sheet and trim it in on the other side.


3 Then straighten the tiller, sheet in the mainsail, and off you go!


Table of Contents 42


Chapter 4 | Your First Sail: Foundations of Sailing


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123