Using the Wind

The wind enables a sailboat to move through the water by supplying a force that is captured by the sails.  The wind allows the vessel to sail every direction except directly into the wind.  Before you get ready to harness the wind on your sailboat, make sure you understand the different attributes of the wind by reading this post.

During your time on the water, it’s important to constantly check where the wind is coming from.  Any change in wind speed and direction may indicate a change in weather, and/or a change in how you are sailing your boat.  Knowing that it is difficult to maneuver your boat into the directly into the wind, you should plan your sail so you are not sailing on this difficult point of sail when you are headed back to the dock for the day.

A general rule is that the closer your boat is pointed to where the wind is coming from, the closer your sails should be trimmed to the center of your boat.  When you are sailing away from the wind your sails should be let all the way out.  In very general terms, you should trim your sails so that each sail is as perpendicular to the direction of the wind as possible.  You can tell your sails are trimmed correctly because they are not luffing (shaking).  To assure your sails are trimming correctly, ease your sails out until they luff and then pull them back in just until the stop shaking.  To learn more about trimming your sails, check out the posting on the Points of Sail.

Understanding the Wind

Wind is what makes a sailboat move through the water.  Understanding how to best use the wind is a skill that every sailor should continuously practice.  There are several attributes that are important to know about the wind.  First, at any given moment, the wind has a true direction and a true speed.  Minute to minute and even second to second, the wind changes speed and direction with small gusts and calm periods.  Some days are especially gusty and it is important to notice that these gusts generally reflects a change in both speed and direction.  The Beaufort Scale (shown below) is a commonly used tool to describe wind speed over the water.

In addition to the true wind, there is also an apparent wind direction and an apparent wind speed.  The apparent wind takes into account both the true wind as well as the direction and speed of your boat.  For example, if you are steering your boat directly away from the wind at 3 knots and the wind is blowing 10 knots, your apparent wind is 7 knots (this is the wind speed you would feel onboard your boat).  The same concept is true with wind direction, the apparent wind direction not only accounts for the wind speed, but also the direction your boat is moving in relation to the direction of the wind.  When you are moving on the water it is often difficult to determine the true wind direction and speed.  To best determine the wind direction try using stationary objects, such as flags and trees on land.  If you are out of sight of land, observe the direction of the wind on the water: spray and even small wavelets will help you determine the true wind direction.

Source: BBC