FVSPS Sail Course, Class 2

Sail Book, Section 13Helmsmanship

Steering

• Tiller vs. Wheel Steering

• Which Way Do I Move the Tiller?

Steering IssuesCommon Beginner Problems

• Over-Steering

• Steering a Straight Course

• Pinching

• Sailing “Low”

Responding to Changesin Apparent Wind

• Gusts

• Lift

• Header

TelltalesOverview of Issues

• What are they?

• How should they ideally look?

• How do you know which way to turn to make them flow smoothly?

Alternative Ways to AdjustAir Flow over Sails

• Helm Adjustment

• Sail Trim Adjustment

• Which to Do?

Jib Telltales

Jib Telltales –What you want to see in pull mode

Jib TelltalesWhat to Do when They Break?

- If a telltale is not flowing back, is breaking – It needs more air!

- Windward telltale is breaking? Then back off or sheet in!

- Leeward telltale is breaking, then come up or sheet out!

Mainsail Telltales

Mainsail Telltales –What you want to see in pull mode

Mainsail TelltalesWhat to Do when They Break?

- If a telltale is not smoothly flowing back, is breaking – Need to adjust!

- Breaking to leeward? Then then come up or sheet out!

- Breaking to windward? Then back off or sheet in!

Helmsman’s BIG Responsibilitywhen Sailing Downwind

• Preventing an Inadvertent Jibe when Broad Reaching, Running

• Broad Reaching – Watch the headsail!

• Running – Be even more vigilant!

FVSPS Sail Course, Class 2

Sail Book, Section 14Sailing Upwind

Upwind Sailing

• What points of sail are upwind?

• How can we reach a destination directly upwind?

Tacking

• Commands

• Procedures

Helming a Close Haul:How Does it Feel?

• How does it feel when it is good?

• How does it feel when too close?

• How does it feel when gusts hit?

Helming a Close Haul:Problems, Tactics?

• What happens when a boat keeps getting over-powered in the gusts?

• What are solutions?

• How to respond to:• Lift• Headers

FVSPS Sail Course, Class 2

Sail Book, Section 15Sailing Downwind

What Points of Sail are Downwind Sailing

• What are the two obvious points of sail for downwind sailing?

• How about beam reaching?

Beam Reaching

• Not usually thought of as sailing downwind, but it is downwind of the true wind.

• Speed?

• Pull mode or push mode?

• Use telltales?

Broad Reaching

• Maybe most common cruising point of sail

• Push mode

• Do not use telltales– Note: Ques. 8, p. 109 is wrong and should include

running and broad reaching.

• How to trim sails on a broad reach

• Danger of inadvertent jibes; Use preventer?

Running

Choices:– Possible Sail Configurations– Possible Choice of Sails– Broad Reaching Instead?

Danger of inadvertent jibeUse preventer?

Jibing

• Commands

• Procedures

• “Chicken Jibe” Instead?

Jibe vs. Chicken Jibe