Points of Sail

The points of sail describe the angle between your boat's heading and the wind direction. Everything in sailing revolves around where the wind is coming from — this is called the true wind direction.

A sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind. The zone roughly 45 degrees either side of the wind is called the No-Go Zone (or "in irons"). If you point the bow into this area, the sails will flap (luff) and the boat will stop.

Close-hauled is the point of sail closest to the wind that a boat can effectively sail — typically about 45 degrees off the true wind. This is the fastest point of sail upwind, but it requires constant attention to sail trim.

On close-hauled:

• Sails are pulled in tight (sheeted hard).
• The boat will heel (lean) significantly.
• Watch the telltales on the jib — both windward and leeward should stream aft.
• If the front edge of the sail starts to flutter (luff), you are pointing too high — bear away slightly.

Close reach is between close-hauled and beam reach — roughly 60 degrees off the wind. The sails are eased slightly compared to close-hauled, the boat is more upright, and speed often increases.

A beam reach is when the wind is blowing from directly abeam (90 degrees to the boat). This is often considered the most comfortable and one of the fastest points of sail for most boats.

• The sails are eased to roughly 45 degrees from the centreline.
• The boat is fairly upright with moderate heel.
• Both mainsail and jib are working efficiently.
• Speed is typically at or near maximum.

Trim tip: The rule of thumb is "when in doubt, let it out." Ease the sheet until you see the front edge of the sail start to flutter, then sheet in just enough to stop the flutter. This gives you maximum power without stalling the sail.

As you turn further away from the wind, you enter the broad reach (about 120–150 degrees off the wind) and eventually a run (wind directly behind, ~180 degrees).

Broad Reach:

• Sails well eased — the boom may be almost at right angles to the boat.
• Often very fast, especially in a dinghy (planing conditions).
• The boat is relatively flat (little heel).
• Watch for the boom swinging across unexpectedly — an accidental gybe.

Running (Dead Run):

• Wind directly behind. Sails fully eased.
• In a dinghy, you can set sails "goose-winged" (jib on opposite side to mainsail).
• This is the most dangerous point of sail for an accidental gybe — a small wind shift can swing the boom violently across.
• Boat rolls more; steering requires concentration.

Since you cannot sail directly into the wind, you need to change direction through the wind to make progress upwind. There are two manoeuvres:

Tacking — turning the bow through the wind (through the no-go zone):

1. Check it is clear to tack — "Ready about?"
2. Push the tiller away from you (towards the sail) or turn the wheel to windward.
3. As the bow passes through the wind, release the jib sheet and pull in on the other side.
4. The crew moves across the boat as it changes tack.
5. Settle on the new close-hauled course — "Lee oh!"

Gybing — turning the stern through the wind (boom swings across):

1. Check it is clear — "Stand by to gybe."
2. Pull the mainsheet in to centre the boom.
3. Turn the stern through the wind.
4. As the boom crosses, ease the mainsheet out on the new side in a controlled manner.
5. Settle on the new course — "Gybe oh!"