23.3 Sailing, the Wind, and Points of Sail
(See also: HELP SHIPS, HELP COMPASS) Points for All -------------- In Sailing, the ship and the winds matter a great deal. No ship can go directly into the wind, and some can go closer to the wind than others. For this example, north is up, and that the wind is in the north, which means it is coming from the north and going south. Ships are depicted with a '*' 'v' '^' '>' or '<' at the prow/front to show which way they are facing. N (wind) | | V This is 'close hauled' * which means as close / to the wind as / possible - also / called 'fetching' ------> This is a 'beam reach' Anything between a beam This is a 'broad reach' \ reach and close hauled is \ called a 'close reach' \ This is 'running' or | * 'running downwind' | | v Best Points of Sail ------------------- Different styles and sizes of vessel perform in different manners at each point of sail. Points off War Sea Wind of the Wind Galley Strider Cutter 0 Head to the Wind 0 0 0 1 \ 0 0 2 2 > Close Reach 2 3 4 3 / 4 4 5 4 Beam Reach 6 6 7 5 \ 8 8 8 6 > Broad Reach 10 9 8 7 / 11 10 9 8 Running 12 10 9 0 means the ship can make no headway at all. The other numbers give a feeling for the relative speeds - higher numbers representing faster movement. More Sailing Terms ------------------ (in) irons - when a ship comes to a stop because of heading into the wind luffing - when the sails flap because of being too close to the wind wear(ing) - turning away from the wind so the wind is on the other side of your craft (from larboard to starboard, or vice versa) also called jibe/jibing coming about - turning into the wind so the wind is on the other side of your craft (from larboard to starboard, or vice versa) larboard - the left side of your craft, when looking forward (from 'loading', where 'board' means 'side') starboard - the right side of your craft, when looking forward (from 'steering', where 'board' means 'side') forward - towards the front of your vessel aft - towards the rear of your vessel beating - any course that works upwind (also beating to windward) tack (noun) - your current course in relation to the wind - either a starboard tack (wind comes from the right) or a larboard tack (wind comes from the left) tack (verb) - same as coming about