Chapter 6


Mastering the Wind: Advanced Sailing Skills


Having seen and performed fundamental maneuvers, now we begin the process of refining and perfecting the sailor’s art. We will be exploring how to shape our sails, how to use telltales to trim them efficiently, how to recognize and utilize changes in wind direction, strategies for sailing both up and down wind, and how to adjust the balance of the boat. With practice and understanding comes increasing competency, confidence, and pleasure.


BALANCE


A sailboat is a collection of forces in motion, not all of which move the sailboat in the same direction. The forces generated by the sails move the sailboat to leeward as well as forward. The sideways motion (called leeway) is resisted by the keel and rudder, causing the sailboat to heel as it moves forward. When all these forces are in balance, the sailboat will sail forward in a straight line. When they are not, the boat will tend to turn.


The mainsail (pulling the stern to leeward) causes the sailboat to head up and the jib (pulling the bow to leeward) causes the sailboat to bear away. Because these forces are constantly changing and never exactly equal, small adjustments with the tiller are needed to keep the boat on course. Understanding principle of balance allows you to adjust your sails to minimize tiller corrections. As your sailing skills improve, you will use balance to get the best performance out of your sailboat and execute more advanced maneuvers.


65 Table of Contents


Force from jib


Force from mainsail


Force from keel Force from rudder


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