Turning the Boat

Changing Directions: Turning the sailboat away from the wind is to fall off or bear away. Turning into the wind is to head up or harden up. As the sailboat falls off the sails should be eased or let out. As the sailboat heads up the sails need to be trimmed or moved toward midline. When one changes the point-of-sail it is advantageous to change the position of the mainsail before or during the maneuver, not after. For example, if one is going to change from a close reach to a broad reach, you should change the sail position before completing the turn or the wind will hit the sail at 90 degrees and may excessively heel the boat.

Changing Directions Through the Wind: There are two basic maneuvers to change directions through the wind- Tacking (Coming About) and Jibing. "We use one of these two maneuvers anytime the change in our course causes the wind to change from one side of the boat to the other. Both maneuvers will accomplish this objective. Tacking does so by taking the bow through the wind. Jibing does so by taking the stern through the wind. Which one you choose depends upon a number of factors. First is the direction you want to turn. Is it easier to turn to starboard (boat’s right) or to port (boat’s left) to steer to your new objective? If the closer turn takes the bow through the wind, it is generally better to tack. If it is closer to turn downwind and take the stern through the wind, then generally jibing is the desired maneuver. Other factors to consider are wind strength and proximity to obstructions such as shoals a dock and other boats. In stronger winds, jibing can be a more challenging maneuver often intimidating less experienced sailors as well as subjecting the boat and its equipment to serious stress due to the rapid shift of the wind force from one side to another. If you have serious doubts in you or your crew to perform a jib or about the integrity of your boat, consider doing what we call a "Chicken Jib" which is heading up and tacking around the long way." - Jahn Tihansky

Coming-About ( Tacking ): In this maneuver, the bow of the boat goes through the wind as one changes from a close-hauled point-of-sail on one tack (direction) to a close hauled point-of-sail on the other direction. Only the jib needs to be adjusted, the working sheet of the jib is changed and the new working sheet is placed on a winch. The mainsail is left alone and will by itself often assume the correct position.

Coming about or tacking will change the boat's tack (direction) by approximately 90 degrees. To determine when to stop the turn, it is useful to identify a structure, landmark or even a cloud abeam ( 90 degrees off the windward side of the boat ) before the turn starts and end the turn heading toward this structure.

Don't get confused remember the term "tack" can refer to three things: (1) The front lower corner of the sail. (2) A direction of sail - i.e. a starboard tack. (3) Coming About.

Jibe: In this maneuver, the stern of the boat goes through the wind as one changes from a broad reach on one tack (direction) to a broad reach in the other tack (direction). Both the jib and mainsail will need adjusting. The mainsail is first centered, the turn made and the mainsail is then let out. The jib's working sheet is changed and the new working sheet is placed on a winch.

One may wish to divide a jibe into a series of steps. First, enter a deep broad reach. This is the point-of-sail just before the jib starts to flap as the mainsail masks the jib's wind. Turn the boat directly downwind in a run and sail Wing-on-Wing. The jib and jib's working sheet can now be switched to the outer side of the boat and adjusted for the new point of sail. Next, center the mainsail and jibe the boat. Unlike coming-about, in a jibe the boat only needs to be turned a few degrees to allow the mainsail to switch to the other side. Once the mainsail swings to the other side, quickly ease it's sheet and trim the main for the new tack.

An interesting maneuver is to turn the boat 180 degrees from a close-hauled tack to a broad reach by performing a jibe. In a close-hauled tack, the mainsail is close to the mast. One may be tempted to not adjust the mainsail until the jibe takes place because it must be centered anyway. If this is attempted, the wind will hit the mainsail at 90 degrees as one enters a beam reach, causing excessive heeling of the boat. Thus, one must first let the mainsail out as the boat falls off and enters a beam and then a broad reach. From a deep broad reach one can then center the mainsail and perform a jibe. (This change in direction is much easier to do by coming-about.) Remember as you head away from the wind the sails are progressively let out.