Since you can not sail directly into the wind, you must learn how to tack (zigzag) on either side of the No Go Zone to work your way into the wind... this is called Tacking. When you tack your sailboat, you bring the Bow of the boat through the Wind. First you must gain enough speed to complete your Tack, then you will push your Tiller towards the Sail and hold it there until the Tack is completed. As the Bow of the boat turns towards the Wind the Boom will swing over to the other side of the boat. As the Boom reaches the center of the boat You need duck so the Boom does not hit you then switch sides so that You will be facing Your Sail when the Tack is complete. Continue to hold the Tiller over until the Boom swings over and the Sail fills with wind. You have now completed your Tack and you can center your Tiller. If you do not complete your Tack and the Bow of the boat points directly into the No Go Zone... you are in what we call "IRONS."
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A boat can't sail directly into the wind... in order to sail you must fall-off (point the bow away from) the wind about 45 degrees to a close hauled position. Falling-off even more approx. 70 degrees is a Close Reach and sailing at 90 degrees or across the wind is a Beam Reach.
Many beginning sailors find themselves getting into Irons. Which means that the boat has stopped and is pointing directly into the wind having lost all forward movement. Relax and don't worry it is easy to get out of!
First - push the boom forward until the sail fills with air, as the sail fills the boat will start sailing backwards... now push the tiller in the same direction as the boom and once the boat is out of the "no go zone" (irons) you can sheet-in and start sailing again. It is just that easy!. |