How to Tack and Gybe Turning the Boat

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

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

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

Relating the Tack to Points of Sail Starboard Tack • 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”. Wind Port Tack

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 a course might look if it involves tacking (and gybing)

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 Sailing Upwind Gybing Sailing Across the Wind Sailing Downwind

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

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

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

Tacking 1. 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 No-Go Zone Wind

WIND Loose Jib Sheet (Without Load”lazy”) Jib Sheet With Load (“working”) Co (H urs ea e di ng ) WIND 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.

WIND Backwinded WIND 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.

Tacking 2. 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 No-Go Zone 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 selftailing winches a slight counterclockwise twisting motion may be required). NEARLY HEAD TO 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

Tacking 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 No-Go Zone Wind

45 o WIND 6” 45 o Ne (H w ea Co di u ng rs ) e se ur Co ng) i d Ol ead (H 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. ON PORT TACK “Lazy”sheet without load is wrapped loosely around winch (clockwise!)

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

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

(Film- Tacking-Close Hauled) Link-File on Computer Link-You. Tube

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

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

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

Gybing 1. 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

WIND Main Sheet WIND Boom Heading

WIND Helmsman starts to turn down wind (away from wind)

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

WIND

WIND Danger of hitting shrouds as boom is let out 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

Old Heading New Heading

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)

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

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

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 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

(Film- “Gybing”-3) Time 2: 19

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

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.

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

Going and Returning

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

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