STEERING WITH TELLTALES Telltales are a helpful aid to assist you with steering an optimum course when sailing upwind. Usually several pairs of telltales can be found on the luff of the headsail. Use the lowest set of telltales to fine tune your course and to efficiently sail your boat to windward.
TOO HIGH
When sailing closer to the wind, the boat heels less because there is less power in the sails. The windward telltale will flutter (fly up or down from parallel). At this point, smoothly steer back down away from the wind until the jib stops luffing and you feel your boat speed pick up again.
leeward telltale WIND windward telltale
Windward telltales fluttering, less heel.
WIND
NO-SAIL (NO-GO) ZONE
JUST RIGHT
With perfect sail trim on the edge of the No-Sail (No-Go) Zone, the sails are working most efficiently. Both the windward and leeward telltales will stream straight aft (back).
WIND
NO-SAIL (NO-GO) ZONE
leeward telltale WIND windward telltale
Both telltales streaming back, comfortable heel.
WIND TOO LOW
NO-SAIL (NO-GO) ZONE
When sailing too low, efficiency is reduced. The boat will not feel very different, other than increased heel. You have to watch the telltales to make course corrections. Head up until both telltales are streaming straight back.
69 Table of Contents leeward telltale WIND windward telltale
Leeward telltales fluttering, too much heel.
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