AquaCraft Vela One Meter User Manual

Page 13

GETTING WHERE YOU NEED TO GO

Sailboats can easily sail downwind but sailing against the wind can
be quite challenging. In fact, sailboats cannot sail directly into the
wind and attempting to do so will leave you “in irons.” Sailboats can
sail at up to a 45° angle against the wind. Movement against the
wind is known as tacking. Take a moment to study the diagram at
right as you read through these defi nitions.

➧ Downwind: Sailing with the wind coming from stern (a.k.a.

running and sailing free).

➧ In Irons: A sailboat is said to be “in irons” when the boat stalls

with its bow pointed directly into the wind and no wind in the sails.
If you fi nd yourself in this position, simply move the rudder stick
to either side and hold it until the sails catch some air. You will
need to adjust the tension on the sails with the sail control stick
to get the boat moving. Release the rudder when the ship reaches
the desired heading.

➧ Luffi ng: When the sails are unable to fi ll with wind and begin

fl apping wildly (like a fl ag).

➧ Tacking: Sailing towards the wind in a series of maneuvers

diagonal to the wind source. There are basically two tacking
directions. Starboard tack occurs when the wind comes from
starboard and the sail boom hangs over the port side. Port tack
is just the opposite, with the wind coming from port with the sail
boom hanging over the starboard side.

There are varying degrees of tack angle and it is important to

learn when each will be useful and how to get your sailboat into
position, especially when racing. For instance, when trying to reach
a specifi c position upwind, sailing close-hauled may be the most
direct route. Sailing close-reached allows you to get upwind faster,
but is not as direct. In any case, you basically want the sails to be
full of air and just on the verge of luffi ng. Here are some terms that
describe different sailing positions in relation to the wind:

➧ Close-Hauled: Sailing against the wind at (up to) 45° angles.
➧ Close-Reached: Sailing against the wind at a much shallower angle.
➧ Beam Reach: Sailing with the boat at about a 90° angle to the wind.
➧ Broad Reach: Sailing with the wind coming diagonally from

behind (a.k.a. sailing large or quartering wind).

PORT TACK

CLOSE-REACHED

PORT TACK

CLOSE-HAULED

STARBOARD TACK

CLOSE-REACHED

STARBOARD TACK

CLOSE-HAULED

IN IRONS

BEAM REACH

DOWNWIND

BROAD REACH