A point of sail is a sailing craft's direction of travel under sail in relation to the true wind direction over the surface.
49-413: A jibe (US) or gybe (Britain) is a sailing maneuver whereby a sailing craft reaching downwind turns its stern through the wind, which then exerts its force from the opposite side of the vessel. It stands in contrast with tacking , whereby the sailing craft turns its bow through the wind. In this maneuver, the mainsail will cross the center of the boat while the jib is pulled to the other side of
98-420: A beam reach is called a close reach . At 135° off the wind, a craft is on a broad reach . At 180° off the wind (sailing in the same direction as the wind), a craft is running downwind . A given point of sail (beating, close reach, beam reach, broad reach, and running downwind) is defined in reference to the true wind —the wind felt by a stationary observer. The motive power , and thus appropriate position of
147-412: A circle, starting with 0° directly into the wind. For many sailing craft 45° on either side of the wind is a no-go zone, where a sail is unable to mobilize power from the wind. Sailing on a course as close to the wind as possible—approximately 45°—is termed beating , a point of sail when the sails are close-hauled . At 90° off the wind, a craft is on a beam reach . The point of sail between beating and
196-417: A few degrees to one side of its course, necessitating sailing with the sail sheeted in for most points of sail. On conventional sail boats, the sails are set to create lift for those points of sail where it's possible to align the leading edge of the sail with the apparent wind. For a sailboat, point of sail significantly affects the lateral force to which the boat is subjected. The higher the boat points into
245-412: A fore-and-aft rigged boat because the sails are always completely filled by wind during the maneuver. As the direction of the wind crosses the boat's centerline and the leeward side of the mainsail and boom suddenly become the new windward side the load on the sail and mainsheet remain high; if uncontrolled, they can swing across the deck at high speed, striking and seriously injuring anyone standing in
294-414: A reach. A variety of high-performance sailing craft sail fastest on a broad reach with the sails close-hauled at speeds several times the true windspeed. Depending on the angle of the true wind with respect to the course sailed, a reach may be close , beam , or broad , as follows: Sailing with the wind or running before the wind , the sails generate power primarily through drag (like a parachute) with
343-415: A series of jibes, turning the vessel across the wind through 270 degrees rather than through the 90 degrees of a tack. This, however, would result in considerable ground lost to leeward with each jibe. Wearing has been judged to be unseamanlike except in heavy weather. When running (sailing nearly directly downwind) in a sloop, one may "jibe" only the mainsail to the opposite side of the boat. This keeps both
392-409: A ship may choose to wear instead of tack. Compared to boats with a fore-and-aft rig , a square rigger can jibe without any difficulty or risk of accident. However, since these craft cannot point close to the wind, they may find it difficult to maintain turning and forward momentum as the bow passes through the large no-go zone when tacking. If the ship loses steering way, it can be "taken aback", with
441-406: A small boat or dinghy can capsize shortly after a jibe due to helmsman error (loss of direction control, or suddenly rounding into the wind too far) or tripping over the centerboard. It is partly for this second reason that centerboards are often lifted while sailing downwind even in non-planing hulls, the main reason being that a centreboard/keel is not needed for sailing downwind and simply adds to
490-454: A stop—it will be "in irons". The recognized points of sail are judged relative to the true wind direction. They include: The range of directions into the wind, where a sailing craft cannot sail is called the no-go zone . A sailing craft cannot sail directly into the wind, nor on a course that is too close to the direction from which the wind is blowing, because the sails cannot generate lift in this no-go zone. A craft passing through
539-437: A straight downwind course. Jibing is also common in racing, which often uses a triangular course marked with buoys; the most direct way of rounding a buoy may be to jibe. Jibing occurs less commonly than tacking, since a sailboat can sail straight downwind, whereas it cannot sail directly into the wind and has to sail a zig-zag course at alternating angles into the wind. However, a jibe can generally be completed more quickly than
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#1733092311987588-463: A tack because the boat never turns into the wind, and thus a jibing boat's sails are always powered, whereas a tacking boat's luffing sails are un-powered while the bow crosses through or into the direction of the wind. "Wearing ship" is the jibing-equivalent maneuver for a square-rigged ship when its crew wishes to avoid the difficulties and hazards of tacking. Light winds, heavy seas, worn-out gear, and poor vessel or crew performance are all reasons
637-409: A vessel sails alternately in the directions 45° from the downwind direction, it will sail √ 2 (≈1.4) times farther than it would if it sailed dead downwind. However, as long as it can sail faster than 1.4 times its dead downwind speed, the indirect route will allow it to arrive at a chosen point sooner. Craft running downwind increase power from the sails by increasing total area presented to
686-402: A wing , relying on lift to propel the craft forward on a course as close to the wind as the sail can provide lift. This point of sail lets the sailing craft travel upwind, diagonally to the wind direction. The smaller the angle between the direction of the true wind and the course of the sailing craft, the higher the craft is said to point . A craft that can point higher or sail faster upwind
735-419: Is a zone of approximately 45° on either side of the true wind, where a sail cannot generate lift, called the "no-go zone". The angle encompassed by the no-go zone depends on the airfoil efficiency of the craft's sails and the craft's lateral resistance on the surface (from hydrofoils , outriggers , or a keel in the water, runners on ice , or wheels on land ). A craft remaining in its no-go zone will slow to
784-412: Is being considered for merging .› A safe jibe can be aided by tensioning the boom vang (kicking strap) to prevent the boom from lifting. In high winds, sailing nearly directly downwind briefly before and after the jibe and making only small direction changes will produce less heeling force and reduce the tendency to round-up. In heavier gusts, the crew or skipper can sheet the boom in and force
833-427: Is said to be more weatherly . Pinching occurs as a craft's point of sail approaches the no-go zone and its speed falls off sharply. In order to sail upwind, sailing craft must zig-zag across the direction of the oncoming wind, called beating to windward . The higher a vessel that can point into the wind, the shorter its "course made good" to an upwind destination. Beating upwind, a vessel alternates between having
882-456: The Age of Sail , a vessel always sought to use the wind to its advantage, maneuvering if possible to attack from windward. This was particularly important for less maneuverable square-rigged warships, which had limited ability to sail upwind, and sought to "hold the weather gage " entering battle. This was particularly important once artillery was introduced to naval warfare. Ships heel away from
931-424: The Age of Sail , the term weather was used as a synonym for windward in some contexts, as in the weather gage . Since it captures rainfall , the windward side of a mountain tends to be wetter than the leeward side it blocks. The drier leeward area is said to be in a rain shadow . The term "windward" has roots in both Low German and Old English. The word "lee", which means a place without wind, comes from
980-406: The wind . Windward is upwind from the point of reference, i.e., towards the direction from which the wind is coming; leeward is downwind from the point of reference, i.e., along the direction towards which the wind is going. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its "lee side". If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of crosswind , the lee side will be the "lower side". During
1029-411: The yardarms , to create a larger sail area for points of sail, ranging from downwind to a close reach. Sails for a fore-and-aft rig and a square rig in use downwind True wind ( V T ) combines with the sailing craft's velocity ( V B ) to be the apparent wind velocity ( V A ); the air velocity experienced by instrumentation or crew on a moving sailing craft. Apparent wind velocity provides
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#17330923119871078-543: The Old Norse "hle" for "cover" and has been used in marine navigation in Germany since medieval times. The word "wind," meaning "air in motion," comes from Proto-Germanic *winda- and has evolved over time, with pronunciation changes influenced by similar words like "windy." The word "wind" has been associated with emptiness and vanity since the late 13th century. Additionally, "wind" has been used figuratively in phrases like "which way
1127-414: The apparent wind perpendicular to its surface, acts substantially like a parachute with the drag on the sail as the dominant force. As a sailing craft transitions from close-hauled to running downwind, the lifting force decreases and the drag force increases. At the same time, the resistance to sidewards motion needed to keep the craft on course also decreases, along with the sideways tipping force. There
1176-417: The boat. Do not sail "by the lee" except for brief durations (such as to avoid an obstacle), and only when keeping all crew clear of the boom swing and the arc of the mainsheet sweep. A crew member can be used to help hold the boom in place in smaller boats. When sailing directly downwind, unintentional jibes can also occur; diligent helmsmanship is required to prevent "by the lee" conditions and keeping clear of
1225-406: The boat. If a spinnaker is up, its pole will have to be manually moved to the other side, to remain opposite the mainsail. In a dinghy , raising the centerboard can increase the risk of capsizing during what can be a somewhat violent maneuver, although the opposite is true of a dinghy with a flat, planing hull profile: raising the centerboard reduces heeling moment during the maneuver and so reduces
1274-410: The boom across the boat by hand, holding the boom in position by locking the traveler or using a preventer . After the jibe has been completed, the course can then be changed to higher points of sail. Because of the inherent dangers in jibing, communication among the crew is key. Typically three commands are issued by the helmsman: "Prepare to jibe" (or "ready to jibe") warns everyone to remain clear of
1323-412: The boom and alerts crew to be in position to handle sheets and boom for all sails. "Bearing away" or "jibing" (similar to saying "helm's a-lee" during a tack) indicates the helmsman is turning the boat (away from the wind) to start the jibe. "Jibe-ho" accompanies the start of the boom swing across the centerline. Accidental jibes may occur when running dead downwind and the wind catches the leeward side of
1372-451: The boom sweep is advised. In larger stable boats, a preventer can help by keeping the boom held forward, preventing the boom motion of a jibe, especially in light winds. However, in high winds, the "sheeting in action" of a preventer can cause severe rounding up on the other tack. Smaller boats may find that a backwinded sail is more heel inducing than allowing a jibe. See broach , Chinese gybe and death roll . When sailing in high winds,
1421-503: The drag of the hull. Raising the centreboard reduces drag and increases the boat's speed. As with most sailing training, it is particularly important to learn this maneuver in lighter winds, and practice in increasing winds and faster maneuvers gradually. The method of jibing sailing craft differs, depending on whether they are fore-and aft , square-rigged, a windsurfer , or a kitesurfer . Points of sail#Reaching The principal points of sail roughly correspond to 45° segments of
1470-416: The efficiency of a sailing craft's sails and its resistance to sideways motion in the water (using a keel or foils) on ice or on land, typically at an angle between 30 and 50 degrees from the wind. A craft stopped in the no-go zone is said to be in irons. A square-rigged vessel in irons by accident is taken aback with the sails blown against the mast or laid aback if deliberate. In either case,
1519-420: The following wind, sometimes by putting out sails that adapt well to the purpose, such as a spinnaker on a fore-and-aft rigged vessel. Another technique is to place the jib to windward (opposite to the main sail)—called "wing on wing" or one of several other terms—for a fore-and-aft vessel going dead downwind. In light winds, certain square-rigged vessels may set studding sails , sails that extend outwards from
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1568-411: The main and jib exposed to the wind resulting in a more efficient use of wind. Setting the mainsail and the jib on opposite sides of the boat is often referred to as running "goose-winged", "gull-winged", or "wing-and-wing". When running wing-and-wing, a light spinnaker pole or whisker pole is often used to hold the clew of the foresail out to the windward side of the boat. A jibe can be dangerous in
1617-490: The motive power for the sails on any given point of sail. The apparent wind is equal to the true wind velocity for a stopped craft; it may be faster than the true wind speed on some points of sail, or it may be slower e.g. when a sailing craft sails dead downwind. Sailing craft A is close-hauled. Sailing craft B is on a beam reach. Sailing craft C is on a broad reach. Boat velocity (in black) generates an equal and opposite apparent wind component (not shown), which adds to
1666-400: The no-go zone to change tacks from one side to the other, must maintain momentum until its sails can draw power on the other side. If it remains in the no-go zone, it will slow to a stop and be in irons . This is called missing stays . To recover, that craft typically must return to its original tack and pick up sufficient speed to complete the maneuver. The span of the no-go zone depends on
1715-413: The path of the boom or its tackle. An uncontrolled boom slamming to the limit of its range may also put excessive stress on the rigging, can break the boom or standing rigging, or cause dismasting. A jibe can also result in a sudden change in the direction of heel , and can cause unexpected course changes due to the mainsail force changing from one side of the boat to the other. ‹The template How-to
1764-410: The proper technique must be applied so as to control the maneuver. For square-rigged ships, this maneuver is called wearing ship . Many sailboats move significantly faster when sailing on a broad reach than when running (sailing straight downwind). Thus the increased speed of a zig-zag course, jibing into successive broad reaches, can more than make up for the extra distance such craft take over
1813-490: The risk of capsize. The other way to change the side of the boat that faces the wind is turning the bow of the boat into, and then through, the direction of the wind. This operation is known as tacking or coming about. Tacking more than 180° to avoid a jibe is sometimes referred to as a "chicken jibe". An uncontrolled, accidental jibe that allows the mainsail boom to swing across the cockpit may endanger crew and rigging. Therefore, accidental jibes are to be avoided while
1862-408: The sail. When the wind direction crosses the centerline of the boat without jibing the point of sail is referred to as "by the lee". When sailing "by the lee" the outer edge of the mainsail is facing slightly into the wind. Rolling motion, slight changes in the boat heading or wind direction can cause an unexpected and surprising jibe, suddenly and forcefully flipping the mainsail to the opposite side of
1911-401: The sails, is determined by the apparent wind : the wind relative to an observer on the sailing craft. The apparent wind is the combined effect of the velocities of the true wind and of the sailing craft. A sail with the airflow parallel to its surface, while angled into the apparent wind, acts substantially like a wing with lift as a force acting perpendicular to its surface. A sail with
1960-506: The same meaning are widely used, particularly upwind and downwind . Among sailing craft, the windward vessel is normally the more maneuverable. For this reason, rule 12 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea , applying to sailing vessels, stipulates that where two are sailing in similar directions in relation to the wind, the windward vessel gives way to the leeward vessel. In naval warfare during
2009-505: The stopped vessel will be blown backwards, which with proper positioning of the rudder allows the vessel to point outside the no-go zone and resume forward motion, once the sails can draw power. Iceboats are often parked in irons with a brake applied to the ice to prevent motion. To commence sailing, the craft is guided to one side and boarded, once the sail can draw power. A sailing craft is said to be sailing close-hauled when its sails are trimmed in tightly and are acting substantially like
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2058-420: The true wind directly from behind the sailing craft. A sailing craft running more downwind than a broad reach cannot attain a speed faster than the true wind. However, higher-performance sailing craft achieve a higher velocity made good downwind, by sailing on whatever broad reach is most efficient on that particular craft, and jibing as needed. The longer course is offset by the faster speed. For instance, if
2107-413: The true wind to become apparent wind. The speed of sailboats through the water is limited by the resistance that results from hull drag in the water. Ice boats typically have the least resistance to forward motion of any sailing craft; consequently, a sailboat experiences a wider range of apparent wind angles than does an ice boat, whose speed is typically great enough to have the apparent wind coming from
2156-593: The weight of ballast, and can be further resisted by the weight of the crew. As the boat points off the wind, lateral force and the forces required to resist it become reduced. On ice boats and sand yachts , lateral forces are countered by the lateral resistance of the blades on ice or of the wheels on sand, and of their distance apart, which generally prevents heeling. Leeward In geography and seamanship , windward ( / ˈ w ɪ n d w ər d , ˈ w ɪ n ər d / ) and leeward ( / ˈ l iː w ər d , ˈ lj uː ər d / ) are directions relative to
2205-648: The wind blows" to indicate the current state of affairs. The suffix "-ward," meaning "toward," is an adverbial suffix in Old English derived from Proto-Germanic *werda-, which itself comes from the PIE root *wer- meaning "to turn, bend." The original notion of "-ward" is "turned toward." Windward and leeward directions (and the points of sail they create) are important factors to consider in such wind-powered or wind-impacted activities as sailing , wind-surfing , gliding , hang-gliding , and parachuting . Other terms with broadly
2254-482: The wind come on the port and starboard sides (the port and starboard tack). Changing from one tack to the other, by steering through the wind direction, is called tacking , or going about . A craft sailing with the true wind on its side (within limits) is reaching . Wind is flowing over the surface of the sail, creating lift (like a wing) to propel the craft. Because lift is more powerful than drag on this point of sail, sailing craft achieve their highest speeds on
2303-409: The wind pressing on the forward surface of the sails and caught in irons . By driving the vessel backwards through the water, this puts excessive strain on the ship's masts, spars and rigging, could break the rudder, and in severe weather could dismast the ship. With tacking to windward carrying these risks, in some situations shipmasters considered it quicker and safer to travel upwind by executing
2352-419: The wind, so the leeward vessel would expose more of her topsides to shot, in extreme cases even part of her bottom. The terms windward and leeward are used in reference both to sides (and climates ) of individual islands and relative island locations in an archipelago . The windward side of an island is subject to the prevailing wind , and is thus the wetter (see orographic precipitation ). The leeward side
2401-423: The wind, the stronger the lateral force, which results in both increased leeway and heeling. Leeway, the effect of the boat moving sideways through the water, can be counteracted by a keel or other underwater foils, including daggerboard, centerboard, skeg and rudder. Lateral force also induces heeling in a sailboat, which is resisted by the shape and configuration of the hull (or hulls, in the case of catamarans) and
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