1. Points of Sail & Sail Trim
LEARN TO SAIL
Points of Sail & Sail Trim
University of Kansas Sailing Club
Spring 2013

2. Learn To Sail Series: { KU SAILING } Parts of the Sailboat
Sailing Terminology
Points of Sail
Sail Trim
Tacking
Jibing
Rules of the Road
Preparing to Sail
{ KU SAILING }

3. No-Sail Zone is “In Irons”
Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind. There is a 90˚ area 45˚ to either side of the wind known as the No-Sail Zone
A boat in the
No-Sail Zone is “In Irons”
{ KU SAILING }

4. These are the basic points of sail that you will need to know.
Close
Hauled
Close
Hauled
Under sail, a boat is on a starboard or port tack. On a starboard tack the wind comes over the right side of the boat; on a port tack, the wind comes over the port side of the boat.
Beam
Reach
Beam
Reach
Starboard
Tack
Port
Tack
This slide covers the topics that will be covered in the learn-to-sail powerpoints. This presentation focuses on the first two.
Broad
Reach
Broad
Reach
Running
{ KU SAILING }

5. Points of Sail: { KU SAILING } Close Hauled Close Hauled
As the boat points further away from the wind, the sails are eased out. When the boat points towards the wind, the sails are sheeted in close to the center of the boat. This is sail trim.
Beam
Reach
Beam
Reach
Starboard
Tack
Port
Tack
This slide covers the topics that will be covered in the learn-to-sail powerpoints. This presentation focuses on the first two.
Broad
Reach
Broad
Reach
Running
{ KU SAILING }

6. Sail Trim: { KU SAILING }
A sailor adjusts, or “trims” the sails to sail the boat as efficiently as possible.
We can read tell-tales to adjust our sail trim. Tell-tales are usually pieces of yarn that have been attached to the sails.
On the Main Sail, tell-tales are attached to the outside end of the sail. On the Jib Sail, a tell-tale is attached on each side.
{ KU SAILING }

7. Sail Trim: { KU SAILING }
If the windward (interior) tell-tale is flapping, the sail trim is too loose and needs to be sheeted in.
If the leeward (exterior) tell-tale is flapping the sail trim is too tight and needs to be eased out.
Sails are trimmed correctly when tell-tales fly back straight.
{ KU SAILING }

8. Next Class: { KU SAILING } Parts of the Sailboat Sailing Terminology
Points of Sail
Sail Trim
Tacking & Jibing
Rules of the Road
Preparing to Sail
{ KU SAILING }