Sailing Close-reach
Sailing in a close reach is my favored point of sail because
it gives you a lot of control and maneuverability. You can speed up by pulling
the main in or slow down by easing the main off. By slacking the main-sheet to
luff the mainsail you can stop. You also do not feel you are going as fast as
when you are close-hauled but that is really only a minor speed difference. The
extra control is worth it.
Back winding a sail can also help you maneuver. If you back
wind the jib just as the bow goes through the eye of the wind it will pull the
bow around quickly and when it is let go the jib will pop over and fill fast.
You can also come to s quick stop if needed by pushing the
boom against the wind back winding the main. It is almost like having a boat
brake. My Dad’s best friend used this technique when he came in to his dock. He
was very good at it. If you were watching you just knew he was going to ram the
dock. He would back wind the main and almost stop and then just drift in to the
slip. It was always great fun to see others try it and not be quite successful.
Crunch…!
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