How to Tack a Square Rigger
Square-rigged vessels sailing--or beating--upwind must regularly tack or shift to the opposite angle in reference to the wind. Without this regular change in course, very little upwind progress results and ships wander far off course. Turning or tacking a square rigger with its pivoting rectangular sails involves expert timing and sail handling. If the force of the wind is above Beaufort Force 6 (more than 49 mph), tacking becomes impossible, and square riggers resort to a less efficient but safer maneuver called wearing.
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Things You'll Need
- Square-rigged sailboat with three masts
- Wind of Beaufort Force 6 or less
Instructions
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Tacking
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1
Build boat speed as high as possible by reaching across the wind for maximum momentum going into the turn. New sailors often think the most speed results from following the wind (sailing downwind) but the most efficient course actually travels perpendicularly to the wind (the reach). Tacking, or turning into and then across the wind, only succeeds if the boat carries enough momentum to power through the dead spot---when the bow points directly upwind, sails luff or spill air, and the ship loses power. When boat speed peaks on the reach, turn the boat sharply into the wind.
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2
Rotate the main and mizzen sails toward the new tack as the ship points directly windward. Keep the foresail set as it was to force the bow of the ship over, and set the course to the opposite tack.
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3
Set foresail, mainsail and mizzen to the new tack as the boat turns, rotating the sails to pick up the wind efficiently before boat speed drops.
Wearing
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4
Turn the boat sharply downwind. Let mizzen and main sails luff or spill air and use the foresail to drive the bow over.
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5
Follow the wind and set all sails square to the wind as the ship sails briefly on a downwind run, temporarily moving in the wrong direction. Some forward progress must be sacrificed to make the turn.
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6
Set the sails to reach across the wind as the boat continues to turn toward the opposite tack. As the boat's speed builds, bring the bow higher into the wind and adjust the sails for the new tack. Once again, the boat sails on a beat, climbing into the wind but at the opposite angle as before. Beating involves sailing into the wind. Heading directly into the wind brings the boat to a quick halt. Falling off to either side allows wind to pass over the sails as though over an airplane's wing, providing lateral force. By tacking back and forth across the wind, the ship beats a course windward.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Principles of sailing with square-rigged vessels remain the same regardless of ship size. Radio-controlled square-rigged model ships maneuver with the same techniques but are much quicker than full-sized vessels.
If a tack fails and forward momentum stops, fall off course into a reach to regain boat speed. Point gradually higher into the wind and adjust the sails for the new beat.
