Chapter 3
POINTS OF SAIL
Introduction
When sailing, it is often necessary to change the direction the boat is heading with respect to the direction the wind is blowing. For instance, you may have to avoid an oncoming vessel. You may see something that you would like to get a look at, or you may have to turn back to the dock to avoid a storm. The direction the boat is heading with respect to the wind direction is its respective point of sail.
No Go Zone
The first thing that one must understand when setting a course is that a sailboat can’t sail directly into the wind. The angle that a boat may sail off the wind varies, but it is typically 45 degrees on either side of the wind.
Definition – No Go Zone
The angle with respect to the wind that a boat can’t produce power to move is known as the no go zone.
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Close Hauled When a boat is heading just to either side of the no go zone it is considered to be close hauled. When a boat is close hauled the sails should be trimmed in tight. The daggerboard should be all the way down. On this point of sail, the boat exclusively through lift generated by the sails, much like an airplane wing. Beam Reach When a boat is on a beam reach, the wind is blowing across the side, or beam, of the boat, hence the name beam reach. When one is on a beam reach, the sails should be trimmed about halfway. The daggerboard can be raised about halfway. On this point of sail, the boat is still mostly using the lift principle to move. On many boats, the beam reach is the fastest point of sail. Broad Reach On a beam reach, a boat should have its sails about ¾ of the way out. The daggerboard can have about a 1/3 of its surface in the water. On this point of sail, a combination of lift, as well as the pushing force of the wind is moving the boat. |
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| Run Definition – Run When a boat is headed directly away from the wind, or directly downwind, it is said to be on a run. On a run, the sails should be let out completely. The sails do not provide lift on a run. The force of the wind pushing the sails moves the boat through the water. When on a run, maximizing the sail area that the wind can push against helps maximize speed. The daggerboard can be raised almost all the way to reduce drag. On this point of sail, the fastest that the boat can move is the speed of the wind. |
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Docking
You rig the boat into the wind, you launch the boat into the wind, and so it just makes sense to dock the boat into the wind. Docking should always be done very slowly so that the boat is not damaged and the docking point is not passed. If there is no way possible to dock into the wind, then get as close to that point as possible and keep it very slow. When nearing your landing point, let you sails out all the way to slow the boat, and once close, turn the boat up into the wind along either the dock or the shore. When landing on shore, as the water gets shallow, you will need to pull up your daggerboard so you do not hit the bottom of the lake. In very shallow water, you will need to remove you rudder. Once the daggerboard and rudder are removed, you can pull your boat on shore or the dock and de-rig into the wind.
Docking Demonstration: Click Play
Summary
When a boat changes its course, it is most often changing its point of sail, or heading with respect to the wind. As a boat changes its point of sail, the sails will have to be adjusted in order for the boat to maintain speed. A boat cannot head directly into the wind. This area is known as the no go zone. On this heading into the wind, the sails cannot produce the power that is needed to move the boat.
