Learn to Sail
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KNOW YOUR BOAT
In this chapter you will learn the terminology used in sailing, as well as the names for the parts of your boat, sails and rigging
The Basics
Looking at a plan view of the hull, the left-hand side of the boat is called the port side and the right-hand side the starboard side. The front of the boat is called the bow and the rear is the stern or transom. Anything that happens ahead of the direction of travel is called ahead, and behind the boat is called astern. The wind will push the boom to one side of the boat or the other – the side of the boat under the boom is called the leeward side, while the side of the boat opposite the boom is called the windward side. The leeward and windward sides of the boat will change, depending on the wind direction in relation to the boat’s course (see the points of sailing chapter on page 95), but all the other descriptions mentioned above will always remain the same.
Points of view from the dinghy
Helmsman holds tiller and mainsheet in dagger grip
The person steering the boat is called the helmsman, but when we use this term it applies to both male and female. The helmsman steers the boat by holding the tiller extension across and in front of his body with one hand, and the mainsheet in the other hand. This is called the dagger grip and allows him to control the mainsail and rudder easily. In a two person dinghy the second person is called the crew.
Tiller extension is held in back hand and mainsheet in front hand
This person controls the headsail called the jib and, if fitted, the spinnaker.
In a two person boat the second person is called crew
Both the helm and the crew sit in an area called the cockpit, which is from where they operate the boat. To help them lean out and balance the boat, they can hook their feet underneath the toe straps, which are webbing straps securely fixed to the inside floor of the cockpit.
Helm and crew work as a team
TOP TIP
The unit of measurement for all things nautical is the knot, and one knot is 1.15 miles or 1.85 kilometres per hour.
They can use toe straps to lean out to balance the boat
Toe straps are strong straps designed to carry your weight
Boats come in various shapes, sizes and construction to suit different crew weights, aspirations and sailing environments. The hull can be made from wood, fibreglass or hard wearing durable plastic so, depending on what type of sailing you plan to do, there will always be an appropriate boat for you. Rather than dashing out and buying the first boat you see, it is much better to try as many different types as possible to ensure that you purchase the best one for your needs. Sailing centres offer great advice and choice, while sailing clubs are also a good place for information and some even provide boats for hire. For your first boat, perhaps consider a second-hand one – again your sailing centre or club can advise you on where to look.
Sailing has many levels. . . literally. . . is he sailing or flying?!
Dinghies come in different shapes, sizes and construction
Boats are also made of durable plastic
Every boat has the same basic components, although variations apply from boat to boat. These components are the hull, the spars, which consist of the mast and boom and are generally made of aluminium, the sails and finally the rudder assembly.
Two person boats have two sails
To help with manoeuvring ashore you should use a launching trolley. The trolley supports the boat well when on shore and has large soft wheels that are designed to go in the water and make launching easier. The rope used to tie the boat to the trolley is called the painter. The painter can also be used when launching to tie the dinghy to a pontoon.
Single person boats are simpler in layout
To tow your boat on the road you will need a road trailer. The launching trolley usually forms part of this configuration. You should avoid putting road trailers in the water as this can corrode the brakes and suspension.
Launching trolleys make manoeuvring ashore easy
The hull
In the middle of the boat you will have a centreboard, which either pivots and retracts around a pin, or slides up and down, in which case it is called a daggerboard. The centreboard is used to reduce the sideways force that the wind exerts on the sails and will therefore stop the boat slipping sideways. The points of sailing chapter on page 95 has more information on this.
Centreboards can pivot up . . .
Your boat should have at least two buoyancy tanks to keep you afloat. They are designed in such a way that, should one become holed, the boat will still float. The buoyancy tanks form the main body of the hull that you sit on, with an additional tank at the bow of the boat. A seat that runs sideways across the boat is called a thwart. The upper outside edge of the hull is called the gunwale.
. . . and down around a central pin
Or slide up . . .
. . . and down. In this case they are called daggerboards
Boats have inbuilt buoyancy in the design
Drainage holes are fitted at the back of the boat to allow you to drain any water that may collect in the buoyancy tanks while sailing. These holes are sealed with bungs, which must be fitted before you go afloat. The boat won’t sink if you don’t fit the bungs, but it will significantly fill with water and be very difficult to steer.
Always check the drainage bungs are fitted before going afloat
After sailing, when the boat is back ashore, raise the bow and remove the bungs to check for water draining out. If more than half a litre of water drains out, you should get the boat checked by a repair specialist as this indicates that there is a leak somewhere which should be fixed.
Self bailers drain the boat when enough forward speed is maintained
Some cockpits drain automatically when the boat is filled with water from either a capsize or near capsize. Boats that do not have an open stern or transom may be fitted with self-bailers. These are built into the hull and, when opened and pushed down, rely on the forward motion of the boat to drain the water out.
The ropes used to pull any sail in or out are called sheets. You will have a mainsheet to control the mainsail.
Control sheets are used to pull sails in and out
In a two person dinghy you will have a jib sheet to control the jib, and a spinnaker sheet to control the spinnaker.
The mainsheet will have a pulley system allowing the helmsman to adjust the mainsail easily when it is under load. The pulleys are either at the end of the boom or in the centre of the cockpit and are called the mainsheet falls.
Sail control lines
All further ropes on board used to control other aspects of the sail or other fixtures are generically called control lines. These are held in place with fixtures called fairleads. A fairlead can either be a pulley or a non-moving captive fixing such as a ring or hook and is used to guide a rope as well as prevent it from chafing. Always tie a stopper knot in the end of all control lines to prevent them running free.
Jib sheet controls the jib
Mainsheet controls the mainsail. This can come in different configurations
Holding on to a fully powered sail can be hard work so to help with this a jam cleat can be used. Jam cleats come in different configurations but all do the same thing, allowing you to lock a particular control line.
A jam cleat secures a sheet under tension and makes it easier to use. Always tie a stopper knot in the end of the rope
Pulleys fixed to deck are called fairleads
TOP TIP
The helmsman must always hold the mainsheet when sailing, even if it is held in place with the mainsheet jammer. He must be able to quickly release the sail in the event of a gust to prevent an unwelcome capsize.
The mainsheet can have its own jam cleat integrated in one unit
Always hold the mainsheet so you can free the sail in the event of a gust
Sails
Single person dinghies have one sail while two person dinghies have two or sometimes three sails. Sail cloth is a man made fabric that is reasonably hard wearing yet flexible enough to allow it to take the shape of a wing when set correctly. Air travelling at different speeds on each side of the sail generates lift, consequently driving the boat through the water.
Single person boats have one sail
The big sail (and only one on a single person dinghy) is called the mainsail. A two person boat will have an additional smaller sail at the front of the boat. This sail is called the jib.
Most sails are triangular in shape
Sails are generally triangular in shape with three corners and rigged with the narrow part of the triangle at the top. Regardless of which sail it is, the...
