“The joy of Sailing”

Points of Sail“The joy of Sailing”

Key Terms:Beam Reach

Close-Hauled

Broad ReachDownwind

In Irons

Port Tack Starboard

Tack

Objective: To learn the different points of sail

and directions that sailboats can move in relationship to the wind

Reviewing Key Terms“The joy of Sailing”

• Starboard Tack

• On a starboard tack: with the wind hitting the starboard (right) side of the boat

• Port Tack

• On a port tack: with the wind hitting the port (left) side of the boat

Beam Reach“The joy of Sailing”

On a beam reach: with the boat at about a 90° angle to the wind (generally the fastest, simplest point of sail)

Wind

Close-Hauled “The joy of Sailing”

Sailing on a close reach: sailing upwind with the wind at about a 45° angle to the boat

Wind

Close-Hauled“The joy of Sailing”

Saltyspeak: Other Ways to Say

“Sailing on a Close Reach”

“Beating”

“working on the wind”

“sailing by the wind”

“sailing full and bye”

Broad Reach “The joy of Sailing”

• On a broad reach: with the wind coming diagonally from behind

Wind

Broad Reach “The joy of Sailing”

Saltyspeak: Other Ways to Say “Sailing on a Broad Reach”

“Sailing large”

“quartering wind”

Downwind “The joy of Sailing”

When sailing a straight line, let sail out nearly perpendicular to the boat for maximum speed.

To jibe—turn with the wind at your back—carefully pull in sail and gently turn rudder, then slowly let sail out on opposite side. Wind and Boat

Downwind “The joy of Sailing”

WarningYou’ve got the wind at your back, but you can’t relax. It only takes a slight wind-direction change to send your sail swinging to the other side—possibly capsizing the boat.

Saltyspeak: Other Ways to Say “Sailing Downwind”“Running”

“sailing before the wind” “sailing free”

“scudding”

IRONS “The joy of Sailing”

In Irons: when a boat is pointed into the wind, causing the sail or sails to flap like flags and the boat to lose speed or even stop

Wind

Boat

Graphic from: http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~wprinz/windsurfing/Terms.html

Starboard Tack Port tack

National Geographic Interactive Sailing Simulator

“The joy of Sailing”

Activity

Conclusion:

Wind Direction12

3 4

56

7

Broad reach, Downwind, Close-hauled, Beam Reach, Port, Starboard

“The joy of Sailing”

12

3 4

56

7

Close-hauledClose-hauled

Beam Reach Beam Reach

Broad Reach Broad ReachDownwind

Starboard Tacks Port Tacks Answers