• Sailing Ships—Past and Present
    Awake!—1979 | June 8

    • Basic Sailing Maneuvers

      Present-day yachts are generally much smaller and simpler to handle than the sailing ships of the past. No mast-climbing is necessary, as all the sails can be controlled from the deck. In fact, many sailing yachts are rigged so that all the sails can be raised, lowered and adjusted directly from the cockpit. This makes it possible for one man to handle a yacht under way.

      For those planning to learn the art of sailing, there are three basic maneuvers that they should know: how to sail (1) into the wind, (2) across the wind and (3) with the wind.

      Sailing into the wind is also called sailing to windward, tacking to windward, sailing on the wind or beating to windward. To accomplish this, your boat tacks or zigzags, maintaining a 45-degree angle to the direction of the wind. This requires great skill, as the wind varies in speed and direction, and adjustments are constantly needed.

      Sailing across the wind is also called reaching, as the wind is abeam (at right angles to the keel). This is the fast way to sail.

      In sailing with the wind or running, the sail is almost at a right angle to the wind as the boat runs with the wind.

      Tacking means turning your boat so that the wind strikes from the opposite side. Coming about is fairly easy, because the wind is coming across the bow and you are turning the prow into the wind, as in tacking to windward. But jibing can be dangerous. This is turning to steer away from the wind. In this maneuver the wind crosses the stern, whipping the sail across the boat, which could cause it to capsize. It is always wise to wear a life jacket and, if your boat capsizes, try to stay with it.