Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Steering Your Sailboat By Weight and Sails. .


Steering Your Sailboat By Weight and Sails.

Steering you sailboat with the tiller is main way you will turn your boat when sailing, but you can steer your boat by shifting your body weight and with the sails. 

Bearing off is turning away from the wind. Heading up is turning toward the wind. If you want to steer by shifting weight, moving body weight to the windward will help the boat bear off. Moving weight to leeward will help the boat head up.  

Steering with sails can also be done. If you ease the main off and / or trim the jib in it will help the boat to bear off. If you trim in the main and / or ease off the jib, this helps the boat head up. 

These are two ways you can easily help steer your sailboat and make your turn smooth and nice in addition to using the tiller.

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