How to Tack in Sailing

While sailing, you want to go in a specific direction. But the wind is blowing from over there and you can't sail into the wind. You had better know how to tack if you have a hope of going in that direction. Beating against the wind is the most difficult type of sailing and requires constant tacking of the sail.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Turn the boat towards the wind and bring it into a close reach. You are going to be forming a zigzag route towards your goal. By making a series of tacks, you will work your way closer to your goal on each leg of the journey. Beating into the wind is much like following a set of switch backs up the side of a mountain.

2. Allow enough time to make some forward progress to your goal and tack the boat. To tack you will turn the bow of the boat through the wind and begin a close reach with the wind blowing over the opposite side of the boat.

3. Prepare the sail sheets to be free of tangles as they move from one side of the boat to the other. Make sure that all hands are prepared to tack the boat. The captain gives the command, "Prepare to tack." With all preparations made, the crew responds "Tack ho."

4. The rudder turns to bring the bow through the wind. Momentarily the sail loses the wind and luffs as the bow continues to move across. The wind then catches the sail and the boat begins to take a close reach point of sail once more.

5. Continue the series of tacks to move closer and closer to your goal. They will become shorter as you approach the landmark you are steering for.