USING TELLTALES


Sail trim is an important sailing skill, but because the wind is invisible, it can sometimes be difficult to judge if your sails are trimmed properly. Telltales are a very helpful tool in detecting wind flow across sails. Telltales provide direction on how to adjust your sails and when to change course.


l Close-Hauled - Demonstrate adjusting sails and course using telltales to hold a close-hauled course.


l Beam Reach - Demonstrate adjusting sails and course using telltales to hold a reach.


l Broad Reach - Demonstrate adjusting sails and course using telltales to hold a run.


HOW TELLTALES WORK


Telltales are pieces of yarn or sail cloth attached near the luff of the jib and on the leech of the mainsail. When sailing close-hauled with sails sheeted in, the driver steers to the telltales. On a reach, the driver holds course and sails are trimmed to the telltales.


E If both telltales stream straight back, it means the wind is flowing smoothly over both sides of the sail.


E If the leeward telltale is fluttering, sheet out the sail toward the telltale or turn the boat away from the telltale (head up) until it flows smoothly.


E If the windward telltale is fluttering, either sheet in the jib toward the telltale or turn the boat away from the telltale (bear away) until it stops fluttering and flows smoothly.


E To adjust your course to the telltales, remember: “Tiller Toward the Tattling Telltale”


E To adjust your sail trim to the telltales, remember: “Trim Toward the Tattling Telltale”


Table of Contents


66


SKILL EVALUATION


Chapter 6 | Mastering the Wind: Advanced Sailing Skills


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