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TA B LISH
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LEARN T O SAIL
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Le a r n t he Ro p es
PAG E 8 1
A v e t e ra n s a i l i n g w r i t e r a n d ex p e r i e n ce d c r u i s i n g a n d ra c i n g s a i l o r e x p l a i n s t h e b a s i c s n e e d e d
to get you out on the water and under sail . B Y J O H N R O U S M A N I E R E
POINTS OF SAIL
“The idea of sailing a boat upon
the sea can seduce even the happiest
farmer or mountain climber. There
is something about boat and water
that sends romance churning in our
hearts, and simply the sight of a
boat can inspire a reverie.”
I
wrote those words in the
first edition of my sailing
manual, The Annapolis Book of
Seamanship, in 1983. They’re
still there today in the updated
fourth edition, published in
2014. And yet, as deeply as
I feel about boats, I’m cer-
tain that when you’re afloat,
romantic and magical thinking
is no substitute for basic skills
and fundamental knowledge.
To quote some other words
I wrote back then: “Limitless
in her poetry, a sailboat is
still restricted by the reali-
ties of wind and sea.” Here I’ll
describe some important basic
skills for dealing with a few of
ILLUSTRATION BY MARK SMITH
those realities, including some
tips and tricks of the seaman’s
trade that I have learned and
that should make you a more
able, safe and confident skip-
per or crew.
N
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ON SAIL
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2016 THE CHARTER ISSUE
T I P S a n d T E C H N I Q U E S F O R N E W S A I L O R S
3 4
B eg i n n e rs ’ O p ti ons C lot he s for th e Cre w Pro visi ons for a Fe a st
PAG E 8 5 PAG E 8 8 PAG E 9 1
1 SAILING 101
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Getting Underway
The very first step when 81
FIG. 1
On a run, let the mainsail out you go sailing is to properly
all the way with the boom vang
prepare yourself for the some-
2016 the charter issue
just taut, so the boom does not
times demanding and harsh
lift. Trim the jib wing-and-wing
elements you will encoun-
on the windward side. With
almost no side force on the
ter on the water (see “Dress
sail, the boat will heel to wind- Smart for Sailing,” page
ward unless somebody sits on 88). Take a wide-brim hat, a
waterproof jacket, nonskid
the leeward side. The telltales
should droop since there is no
wind flow across the sails.
BE GINN ER’S TIP
If prone to motion sick-
ness, take medication
several hours before
On a reach, play the sheets
to keep the sails from barely setting out for the day.
luffing. The boom angle to the
centerline will be between
sneakers and, of course, a life
20 degrees and 80 degrees,
jacket that fits you securely.
depending on the apparent-
wind direction.
Wipe on a gob or two of
high-SPF sun lotion, and
take the tube with you so you
can continue to apply it lav-
When beating, the mainsheet ishly. Those who suffer from
will hold down the boom with- motion sickness should con-
out help from the boom vang. sider taking a medication,
Trim the sails quite flat, but
instead of playing the sheets, Learning to sail is all about
change course to keep the playing angles, specifically
sails at the right angle of attack the angle of the wind in rela-
to the wind. tion to your boat’s heading.
WIND Trim your sails accordingly.

FIG. 2
Beat (closehauled)
1 o’clock
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STARBOARD TACK
82
Broad Reach
4 o’clock
2016 the charter issue
Run 6 o’clock
Understanding the various points of sail is critical to operating a sailboat safely and efficiently. Boats cannot sail directly
into the wind, or the “no-go zone.” If the wind is coming from the left of the boat, you’re on port tack; if it’s coming from
the right, you’re on starboard. As you sail farther away from the wind direction, ease the sheets for peak performance.
preferably one that you’ve
tested for side effects. Before
heading out, write up a float
plan including your itinerary
and important contacts and
share it with your friends and
family, or your sailing club.
The most unsettling
moment of a new sailor’s first
day afloat often comes when
you climb on board and feel
the boat move under you.
There’s plenty of reserve buoy-
ancy, but if the boat’s small
and skittish, you should step
into the center of the cockpit.
A bigger boat can be boarded
via the side deck, but even it
may sway and settle a little.
LEARN TO SAIL
WIND
12 o’clock
Fo
re
re
ac
h
No-Go Zone
Close Reach 2 o’clock
Beam Reach 3 o’clock
Forget about looking graceful.
Take advantage of any hand-
hold you can grab.
Once everyone is on board,
the skipper must assert com-
mand. To quote a wise captain
and safety instructor, Karen
Prioleau: “When leadership is
obscure, tight situations get
even tighter.” Assignments
are made, gear is stowed, the
bilge is pumped, an inspection
is conducted to see that all is
in order, sails are prepared to
hoist, and plans are made to
get underway.
If the boat has a motor, it
can be used to get away from
the mooring or dock into
12 o’clock
h
ac
re
re
Fo
Close Reach 2 o’clock
Beam Reach 3 o’clock
Run 6 o’clock
open water before setting sail.
But for now, let’s concentrate
on getting underway on an
engineless boat. Start by set-
ting the mainsail, the big sail.
The line to the boom (called
the mainsheet) must be well
eased so the sail, once set,
spills wind (luffs) and doesn’t
fill prematurely. The boom will
flop around, so keep your head
low and consider controlling it
with a line called a preventer.
Trimming and Tacking
When the skipper says to
cast off, up goes the jib, the
smaller sail on the bow, also
with a loose sheet. Casting off
Beat (closehauled)
1 o’clock
PORT TACK
Broad Reach
4 o’clock
under sail is a little complicated
because the boat isn’t moving,
which means the rudder has
little to no effect. That’s why
the boat must be steered with
the sails until there’s enough
speed (or “steerageway”) for
rudder steering. Start with the
boat hanging off the moor-
ing or pier; the sails will luff
because the wind is blowing
from directly ahead. If you’re
looking at the bow, you’ll feel
ILLUSTRATION BY MARK SMITH
the wind on both ears. That
angle is sometimes called the
“wind’s eye.”
Trim the jib — using the
winch to bring the sail in,
not let it out — to the side
 LEARN TO SAIL

acknowledges, “jibe-ho.”
FIG. 3
The boom will come across
WIND
suddenly and rapidly, so all
crewmembers must be careful
to duck their head as they trim
the mainsail and jib to the new
sides.
Once the boat is on the new tack, the Since we are talking about
sheets are trimmed just short of where steering, this may be the place
they were until the boat has regained to encourage you to steer from
speed. Tack light boats sharply and heavy 4 the windward side of the tiller
boats gradually. or wheel. The windward side
(closer to the wind direction)
is higher than the leeward side
(farther from the wind) when
The crew, facing forward, ducks under the boom. the boat is heeling, so you will
The jib is not trimmed until the bow has swung have greater visibility to see
through the wind’s eye. With a multihull or very light “puffs” of wind (the dark shad-
dinghy, you may have to back the jib slightly to help ows moving across the water)
fall off on the new tack. as they approach.
3
Using Telltales
One phenomenon of sailing is

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that as the boat speeds up or
“Hard alee.” The crew slides inboard as the boat slows down, the wind seems
flattens. The jib sheet is eased when the sail luffs. to change direction and force.
That’s because there are two
types of wind. One, called
“true wind,” is the breeze
you feel when standing still.
2 The true wind’s velocity and
“Ready about.” Before tacking, make 83
sure sheets are clear and there is no BE GINN ER’S TIP
risk of collision.

2016 the charter issue

Dark patches on the
water indicate building
or shifting breeze. Main-
1 tain a careful watch to
avoid surprises.

direction are the same for all

Tacking a boat is the act of changing course by swinging the bow of the boat through the di- nearly stationary objects. But
rection of the wind. When sailing as close to the breeze as possible, at an angle of about 40 if one of those objects moves
degrees, a boat is said to be “closehauled” or “hard on the breeze.” (like a boat does), its motion
affects the true wind to create
“apparent wind,” which is that
opposite the one where you eased and trimmed. When the “Ready about,” and after the felt by people on the mov-
want to sail. If you want to skipper at the helm and the sail crew answers that they’re ing object. Sails are trimmed
head off to the port side, you trimmers are in sync, every- ready, “Hard alee.” With a to the apparent wind. You
“back the jib,” or trim it to the thing goes well (see Figure 1, strong, fluid shove of the tiller can gauge the apparent-wind
“wrong” side. As the backed page 81). If you get nervous, or turn of the steering wheel, direction and force by feeling
jib pulls the bow off, cast off slow down by easing the sails the bow passes through the it on your skin, reading it on
the mooring. Once the wind is until they are just half-filled eye of the wind and comes off an electronic instrument, or
on that side, trim the jib to the with wind. onto the new tack (see Figure seeing it on a telltale, which
correct side while also trim- Practice changing tacks. If 3, above). is a short length of yarn tied
ming the mainsail as the boat you start off with the wind The other way to change to one of the boat’s side stays
accelerates. In this way, the coming over the starboard tacks is to jibe, pulling the (shrouds) that support the
sails help steer the boat. side, you’re on the starboard tiller or wheel in the other mast. While all those devices
An entertaining and educa- tack. If the wind is on the port direction, easing the sheets indicate the wind direction,
ILLUSTRATION BY MARK SMITH

tional exercise is to sail a boat
toward a buoy or other target
on a reach, with the wind com-
ing from the side (or beam)
of the boat, and do a series of
slow weaves as the sheets are
side, you’re on the port tack
(see Figure 2, page 82). One
of the two ways to change
tacks is called “coming about,”
or “tacking.” The helmsman
starts the process by saying,
out, and swinging the stern
through the wind’s eye until
the boom swings across
(see Figure 4, page 84). The
steerer’s commands are “stand
by to jibe” and, after the crew
none of them tells you if your
sails are trimmed correctly for
that direction.
Sails are airfoils, with a deep
curve that redirects the appar-
ent wind to produce a force
 LEARN TO SAIL

FIG. 4

The helmsman heads up to course. Be

4 sure to alert crewmembers so they are
not caught on the wrong side.

The crew may have to pull the boom

across or over-steer onto the new tack
to bring the mainsail over. After the sails
3 are across, in waves or fresh winds,
the helmsman heads off sharply for a
moment, but not so far that the boat will
jibe back. The sharp turn stops the boat’s
rolling and swing to the new windward
side.
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must give way to sailboats,
but all smaller boats, sail and
power, must give way to big
ships in a narrow channel and
other vessels requiring room
to maneuver.
There are a few other basic
rules. When one boat is over-

“Jibe-ho.” The sheets are eased as the
helmsman heads off to a run, and then
quickly trimmed as the stern swings
through the wind’s eye.
2 “Stand by to jibe.” The crew checks sheets.
84
2016 the charter issue
taking another, no matter what
type, the overtaking boat must
give way. When boats under
power meet each other bow
to bow, they each should turn
to starboard so they pass port
side to port side. And when
sailboats are sailing near each
other, without engines turned
on, the one on the port tack
(with the wind coming over the
port side) is obliged to give way

to the one on starboard tack.

But even if the rules give you
WIND 1 the right of way, proceed just as
sensibly and defensively as you
would when you face the real-
ities of wind and sea at other
Jibing a boat is the act of changing course by swinging the stern of the boat through the times in open waters.
direction of the wind. Because you are running before the breeze with eased sheets, it’s im- Once you’ve mastered these
perative that the mainsheet trimmer keep control of the boom throughout the maneuver. basics, get out on the water as
often as possible to hone your
skills in all conditions. One of
that pulls the boat forward should be three pairs of jib experiment with sail trim. An the great things about sailing is
(somewhat like a wing lift- telltales at equal intervals up inch or two of sail trim or ease that no matter how many miles
ing an airplane off a runway). and down the sail’s luff. But can get them flowing again you cover, there’s something
Side force is absorbed and one pair about halfway up the and make the boat sail faster. new and different to experi-
redirected to forward force by sail should do the job. Other ence every time you set sail.
the airfoil-shaped fins under telltales are secured, one at a Rules of the Road Congratulations on taking the
the boat, the centerboard and time, on the trailing edge of Once you’re sailing, you may first step toward what, for so
keel. As airfoils, sails should be the mainsail (the leech), or at be near other boats and wor- many of us sailors, has become
trimmed to suit the wind, and least at or near the second bat- ried about who is under an an enjoyable, lifelong pursuit.
the boat should sail the most ten from the top. obligation to alter course to
effective angle to that wind. The jib telltales on both avoid a collision. The basic Renowned sailing writer John
A simple, effective indi- sides of the sail should stream rule is that more maneu- Rousmaniere has logged over
cator of that sailing angle aft most of the time, with the verable boats must give way 40,000 nautical miles of blue-
is a set of short lengths of windward ones lifting slightly (change course) to avoid boats water sailing, including nine
ILLUSTRATION BY MARK SMITH

special telltales — yarn or
ribbons — that are sewn or
glued to sails. Some telltales
are placed on the jib, near its
leading edge (the luff), on both
sides of the sail. Ideally, there
from time to time. The main-
sail leech telltale should
stream aft about half the time.
If your telltales behave differ-
ently, try steering closer to
or farther off the wind, and
that are less maneuverable
and that, therefore, may con-
tinue on their course, giving
them right of way. (These are
sometimes called “stand-on
vessels.”) Usually powerboats
Newport-Bermuda races. This
article is based on material from
the fourth edition of his com-
prehensive sailing manual, The
Annapolis Book of Seamanship
(Simon & Schuster, 2014).
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