BASIC INTRO TO SAILING

• Parts of the Boat

• Parts of the Sail

• Points of Sail

• Knots

• Maneuvers

• Navigation Rules

• Rules of the Road

• Chart Basics

OTHER STUDY GUIDES

ADVANCED SAILING - SKIPPERING

INTERMEDIATE CRUISING

COASTAL NAVIGATION (HOME STUDY COURSE GUIDE)

 DETERMINE WHICH SIDE IS WHICH

Port:  LEFT – (red like wine, navigation light on port side is red – port and left both have four letters)

Starboard (pronounced the right way – starb’rd): RIGHT – (green navigation light – just memorize this)

DEFINE AREAS ON BOARD

The Cockpit – An opening in the deck where the helm (steering) is, where the Captain and crew operate the boat from.

The Head – the bathroom/toilet/shower

The Galley – The kitchen area on a boat, always called the galley – stove, sink, icebox/frig

V-Berth - The forward cabin that’s V-shaped (no kidding right?)

The Deck – Permanent covering over the hull (you know)

Bow (Forward)  -  Toward the front of the boat

Stern (Aft) -  Toward the back of the boat

PARTS OF THE BOAT

Hull – The body of the boat.

Keel - on the bottom of hull, attached.  Keeps boat from sliding sideways (making leeway), allows boat to TRACK through water so boat can sail UPWIND.

Rudder – fin used for steering, attached to tiller

Tiller:  Steering arm – controls rudder

Boom – spar that the main sail is attached to, supports bottom of mainsail.

Winch – used as a lever to get more purchase when hauling lines. Offers pulling power.

Block -  Lines are led through blocks, which are nautical pulleys.

Telltales - Streamers attached to the sail to indicate wind flow.

Masthead Fly (Windex)– Cool object on top of the mast that points into the wind showing the wind direction.

RIGGING

Standing Rigging – parts of the rigging that are stationary and support the rig and help it to STAND. ie: mast, spreaders, forestay, backstay, shrouds

Running Rigging – parts of the rigging that are moveable and RUN, used to control the sails ie: halyards, sheets, boom vang, topping lift, outhaul, downhaul, cunningham, traveler

As you FALL OFF the wind, you EASE sails.

As you HEAD UP into the wind you SHEET IN (tighten) your sails in closer.

Windward: Toward the wind (the direction from which the wind is coming from)

Leeward:  Away from the wind (the direction the wind is blowing)

POINTS OF SAIL – The relation between the angle of the boat and the wind....you trim your sails according to each point of sail that the boat changes to.  (ie:  start at a close haul, fall away from the wind to a beam reach...you ease your sails out)

**Notice where the sails are positioned on each point of sail**

BEATING -   Close Hauled, when  the sails are in close. (MOST HEELING, FEELS FAST)  Sailing to windward

REACHING - (REACHING IS THE FASTEST POINT OF SAIL AND BOAT HEELS LESS)

      Three types:  Close Reach, sails eased.  Beam reach, the sails are eased out   Broad reach, sails are eased even more. RUNNING -   Sailing downwind (with the wind)  sails are out square to wind, one sail on each side of the boat.

THERE IS A NO GO ZONE that extends from straight into the wind, to 45 degrees off each side of the wind (total of 90 degrees).  You can NOT sail here.  When you “FALL OFF” the wind…. you can then sail CLOSE HAULED once you’re at 45 degrees OFF the wind.  See diagram above.

***When steering with a TILLER – push it the OPPOSITE DIRECTION of the direction you want to go.  Example, you want to turn the boat to starboard, push the tiller to PORT.

Which tack are you on?  Wind is entering the boat on the starboard side (windward), leaving the boat on the port side (leeward) USE THE BOOM TO DETERMINE THE LEEWARD SIDE. 

 * The image to the right is a starboard TACK.  

(Note:  Starboard tack has right of way over port tack when under sail ONLY. When engine is on, you are a powerboat)

The word TACK:  HAS DIFFERENT MEANINGS.    Tack, Tack, Tacking

·         Tack – Crossing the wind by passing the bow through the wind.

·         Tack – The forward bottom corner of a sail (you attach the tack to the boat) Where the LUFF & FOOT meet

·         Tacking – If you are on a COURSE heading to windward you will alternate between a starboard tack and a port tack… known as tacking. Performing a series of tacks to get upwind is called BEATING.

Right of way UNDER SAIL ONLY: 

When 2 boats are on OPPOSITE tacks - STARBOARD tack always has the right of way

When both boats are on SAME tack - downwind (LEEWARD) boat always has the right of way.

There are some basic knots that very important and can be applied in most situations to get you through. 

1.       Overhand Knot   -Stopper knot  - Very difficult to untie.  Use when it’s not necessary to untie regularly. Makes it easy to grip rope with overhand knots every foot.

2.       Figure 8 Knot -  Stopper Knot – Used on running rigging.  Use on the end of sheets to keep them from flailing through blocks (nautical pulleys).

 3.       Reef Knot – Bend  (ONLY for temporary joining of two lines) Used on lines of equal diameter.  Use this for reefing.  It is easy to get undone, but secure for reefing.

 4.       Clove Hitch – Hitch  -  Used to fasten a line to a rail, post or bollard. Use on round posts.  Add two half hitches to make is secure

5.  Bowline (prounounced bow-lin)  Loop  -The bowline has been called the king of knots; it will hold under tension, will never jam, and can be easily untied. Use this line for many things.  It’s very versatile.  For example, it’s often used when stepping the mast.  It is tied around the spreaders in order to lift the mast.  The standing end will lead to the gin pole or crane.  Also use when tying to a post.

 6.       Half Hitches – Hitch – (Often used with the clove hitch to make more secure)

7. Round turn and 2 half hitches –   Strong, dependable, never jams. Fasten lines to a ring, post, bollard, deck eye, rail.  Use to attach fenders to lifelines temporarily or to tie your horse to a post in Nevada (if you’re a cowgirl.)

8.  Cleat Hitch    Tie around cleats