1. *Turning the Boat with the Bow Crossing the No-Go-Zone
How to Tack* and Gybe**
*Turning the Boat with the Bow Crossing the No-Go-Zone
**Turning the Boat with the Wind Crossing the Stern of the Boat

2. Unfortunately “Tack” has a number of meanings:
Tack, Tack, Tack, Tacking!
Unfortunately “Tack” has a number of meanings:
A boat is either on a “port tack” or “starboard tack.”
If the boom is on the starboard side of the boat then the wind is coming from port and you are on a “port tack”.
If the boom is on the port side of the boat then the wind is coming from starboard and you are on a “starboard tack”
The verb “tacking” or “ to tack” is the action of turning the boat so the bow (front of the boat) passes through the wind, after which the wind will be coming from the other side of the boat
A “tack” is also the time spent on a particular tack of the sail
Finally, the “tack” is also the lower forward corner of a sail

3. Relating the Tack to Points of Sail
This chart shows when the boat is on a starboard tack or port tack for each Point of Sail
Wind
Starboard Tack
Port Tack

4. Relating the Tack to Points of Sail
Starboard Tack
Port Tack
Wind
Note when a boat’s bow or aft crosses the wind the boat changes from a starboard tack to a port tack or vice-versa
Note that going from one tack (port or starboard) to the other by passing the bow through the wind is “tacking”.

5. A sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind
Tacking
A sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind
To make progress toward the wind it must sail a zigzag course across the wind
When the boat switches from a zig to a zag with the bow passing through the No-Go Zone you are “tacking” and the sails will cross from one side of the boat to the other
The next series of slides show how a course might look if it involves tacking (and gybing)

6. Sailing Across the Wind
Going and Returning
This slide shown earlier today representing a journey incorporates turning the boat through the wind. Combining tacking and gybing with the Points of Sail allows the sailor to complete his journey. This presentation will tell you how to do it.
Tacking
Tacking
Gybing
Sailing Upwind
Sailing Across the Wind
Sailing Downwind

7. (Film- Tacking & Gybing Racing Sailor-1) Time 1:26

8. Sailing Across the Wind
New Heading
Tacking
Heading
Gybing
Sailing Upwind
Sailing Across the Wind
Sailing Downwind

9. Tacking
Wind
No-Go Zone
New Heading
Shown here is a boat initially on a starboard tack then turning through the No-Go-Zone and ending up on a port tack
Note this is a pretty big turn of 90° or more
Heading
~90o

10. Tacking
Wind
No-Go Zone
Helmsman checks for anything in the way of the turn, selects a reference point to steer for after the completion of the tack, and then calls out, “Ready about”
Crew checks to make sure the jib sheets are clear and ready to run, holds the “working” jib sheet and gets ready to sheet in on the” lazy” jib sheet before responding,
“Ready on port”
“Ready on starboard”
After the crew responds ready the helmsman calls out “Helm’s a-lee” and starts turning the boat into the wind

11. Loose Jib Sheet (Without Load-”lazy”) Jib Sheet With Load (“working”)
WIND
WIND
WIND
Loose Jib Sheet (Without Load-”lazy”)
START BY READYING SHEETS FOR TACK Loose jib sheet should have one wrap on winch-clockwise. Jib sheet with load should be uncleated but NOT released. One person should hold jib sheet with load, ready to release from winch . Helmsperson calls “Ready About”-crew answers “Ready” when ready.
Course (Heading)
Jib Sheet With Load (“working”)

12. WIND
WIND
Backwinded
Helmsperson call “Hard Alee” and starts to turn boat upwind. Jib will start flutter, to press against shrouds, and may become slightly backwinded. NOTE: “working” Jib sheet with load is NOT released when “Hard Alee” is called.

13. As the boat turns into the wind the sails begin to luff
Tacking
Wind
No-Go Zone
As the boat turns into the wind the sails begin to luff
When the forward edge of the jib is luffing the crew releases the “working” jib sheet so the jib can cross to the other side
Releasing the jib before it luffs will depower the boat and potentially stop the turn

14. WIND
WIND
Jib sheet which had load is released as bow comes up into the wind and before jib is significantly backwinded. To release sheet pull straight up (with self-tailing winches a slight counter-clockwise twisting motion may be required).
NEARLY HEAD TO WIND

15. ON PORT TACK-but still in No-Go Zone
WIND
WIND
As boat comes to new tack, formerly loaded jib sheet is released completely (make sure it’s free to run). Slack is taken up on other jib sheet. Other jib sheet is brought in quickly before jib fills with wind. If close hauled, trim until jib is 6” off spreader tips.
ON PORT TACK-but still in No-Go Zone

16. Tacking
Wind
No-Go Zone
3. As the helmsman steers through the wind, the jib blows across the bow and the former lazy jib sheet is sheeted in (a couple of wraps around a winch may be necessary to hold it against the load)
Once the tack is completed the helmsman steers for the reference point picked at the beginning of the tack
The crew optimally trims the main and jib for the new direction
The jib sheets are coiled and readied for the next tack

17. 45o 45o Old Course (Heading) New Course (Heading) ON PORT TACK WIND6”
45o
WIND
WIND
45o
Sheet with load (“working”) is trimmed for new point of sail. If close hauled, trim until jib is 6” off spreader tips. Sheet may be cleated if not tended by crew.
“Lazy”sheet without load is wrapped loosely around winch (clockwise!)
Old Course (Heading)
New Course (Heading)
ON PORT TACK

18. We will go through the steps involved in a tack
Tacking
We will go through the steps involved in a tack
There are two factors that are essential to doing this well
Everyone knowing what they are going to do and how they are going to do it
Communication between the helmsman and the crew

19. Summary of verbal commands used in a tack
Tacking
Wind
No-Go Zone
Summary of verbal commands used in a tack
“Ready About!” (Helmsman)
“Ready on Port!” (Crew) “Ready on Starboard!” (Crew)
“Helm’s a-lee!” (Helmsman)

20. (Film- Tacking-Close Hauled)
Link-File on Computer
Link-YouTube

21. Another basic maneuver in sailing is the “Gybe”
Gybing
Another basic maneuver in sailing is the “Gybe”
Like a tack a gybe is a change in direction through the wind with the sails crossing from one side of the boat to another
During a tack you steer the bow (front end of the boat) through the eye of the wind (No-Go-Zone)
During a gybe the stern (back of the boat) passes through the eye of the wind

22. Gybing
Shown here is a boat initially on a starboard tack turning with the wind crossing the stern (back of the boat) and ending up on a port tack

23. Gybing We will go through the steps involved in a Gybe
Similar to a tack there are two factors that are essential to doing this well
Everyone knowing what they are going to do and how they are going to do it
Communication between the helmsman and the crew
In contrast to a tack the boom can whip across quickly as the sail swings from one side of the boat to the other during a Gybe as the wind catches the leech (back edge) of the main sail
The steps we will outline will minimize the force in which the boom crosses over the boat

24. Gybing
Helmsman checks wind direction and selects reference to steer after the completion of the gybe, and then calls out, “Ready to Gybe”
The crew checks the sheets to make sure they are ready to run out, and uncleats the working jib sheet and mainsheet before responding,
“Ready on Port”
“Ready on Starboard”
“Ready on Main”
After the crew responds, the helmsman calls out “Gybing” and slowly turns the boat away from the wind while a crew member starts to sheet in the mainsail

25. WIND
Main Sheet
WIND
Boom
Heading

26. Helmsman starts to turn down wind (away from wind)

27. WIND
WIND
As the helmsman starts turns further the boom is hauled in to control it.

28. WIND
WIND

29. Danger of hitting shrouds as boom is let out
WIND
WIND
As soon as the wind passes through the stern the boom is let out quickly but controlled –make sure it doesn’t crash into the shrouds
Danger of hitting shrouds as boom is let out

30. Old Heading
New Heading

31. Gybing
2. Helmsman continues to turn the boat and the crew sheets the main to the center of the boat
As the stern crosses the wind the jib crosses over to the other side, and the former working jib is released
Just before the boom flops across, the helmsman calls out “Gybe-ho” as a warning the boom is coming across
(EVERONE KEEPS THEIR HEAD SAFELY DOWN AS THE BOOM CROSSES THE COCKPIT)

32. Gybing
3. As soon as the boom has crossed the cockpit the crew lets the mainsail out and starts to sheet in the former lazy sheet
The helmsman heads up toward the wind and steers for the reference point while the crew optimally adjusts the sails

33. Summary of verbal commands used in a Gybe
Gybing
Summary of verbal commands used in a Gybe
“Ready to Gybe!” (Helmsman)
“Ready on Port!” (Crew) “Ready on Starboard!” (Crew)
“Ready on Main!” (Crew)
C. “Gybing!” (Helmsman)
D. “Gybe-ho!” (Helmsman)

34. Uncontrolled Gybe
Gybing without sheeting in the mainsail is called an “uncontrolled gybe” or “accidental gybe”
Boom can rapidly swing across the boat and can break rigging or hit a crew member
If this starts to happen the alert sailor should shout out a warning and the helmsman should steer back to original course (in the direction opposite where the boom originally was)
If you are on a broad reach and the jib goes limp you are at risk of an accidental gybe

35. (Film- “Gybing”-3) Time 2:19

36. (Film-Using a Winch to Tack & Gybe-4) time 1:46

37. Review
What is a tack?
What are the verbal commands in tacking?
Describe the essential steps in tacking.
What is a gybe?
What are the verbal commands in a gybe?
Describe the essential steps in gybing.
What is an accidental gybe?
How do you prevent an accidental gybe?
For the “Going and Returning” slide of this presentation name the points of sail for each boat diagram.

38. Next slide shows a little journey
Going and Returning
Now that you know your Points of Sails and you can tack and gybe you can go cruising
All you need is water, wind and time
Next slide shows a little journey

39. Going and Returning

40. Going and Returning Exercise
We are now going to breakout into workgroups and review the following items for the “Going and Returning” slide of this presentation.
Type of Tack
Points of Sail
Type of Turn

41. Going and Returning Can You Name? Type of Tack Points of Sail
Type of Turn