Strategy
Your plan for the fastest route around the course, using wind, waves and current.
On the water: You choose the right side because you expect stronger wind there.
SAILING THEORY
Sailing Dictionary
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Tactics
Moves you make in response to other boats while racing.
On the water: You choose a clear lane instead of sailing in another boat’s wind shadow.
Lift
A windshift that lets you point closer to the upwind mark on your current tack.
On the water: Your close-hauled bow direction moves closer to the mark.
Header
A windshift that makes you point farther away from the upwind mark on your current tack.
On the water: Your close-hauled bow direction turns away from the mark.
Lifted tack
The tack on which the windshift gives you a heading closer to the upwind mark.
On the water: Before the start, compare both headings with the mark; the longer tack is most likely the lifted tack.
Longer tack
The tack on which you have more distance left to sail to reach the upwind mark.
On the water: Do more of the long tack first to keep room for the short tack later.
Shorter tack
The tack on which you have less distance left to sail to reach the mark.
On the water: Choose carefully when to use the short tack so you do not reach the layline too early.
Layline
The close-hauled line from which you can reach an upwind mark without another tack in the current conditions.
On the water: If the wind changes, the layline can move too.
Overstand
Sail beyond the point where a tack would have taken you to the upwind mark.
On the water: You sail too far past the layline and add distance to your route.
Oscillating wind
Wind that shifts back and forth around an average direction.
On the water: A right shift is followed later by a left shift.
Persistent shift
A windshift that keeps moving in one direction for a sustained period.
On the water: The wind gradually turns right through the beat.
Windshift
A change in the direction the wind comes from.
On the water: Your normal close-hauled heading changes even though you have not chosen to turn.
Pressure
A sailing word for the strength of the wind in a patch of the course.
On the water: A darker patch of water may show more wind, but check the other clues too.
Puff
A short increase in wind strength.
On the water: You hike more as a puff reaches your Optimist.
Lull
A short decrease in wind strength.
On the water: You move your weight in as the boat loses wind.
Clear air
Wind reaching your sail without being disturbed by nearby boats.
On the water: You find a lane away from the wind shadow of the boat ahead.
Dirty air
Wind disturbed by another boat, which can reduce your speed.
On the water: You struggle to keep speed behind and downwind of another boat.
Cover
Keep a useful position relative to an opponent to limit separation and protect your lead.
On the water: You stay on the side you want to protect instead of letting the opponent separate freely.
Loose cover
Cover an opponent while leaving it a usable lane, without deliberately forcing a tack.
On the water: You protect the right while the opponent can keep sailing in clear air.
Tight cover
Cover close enough to disturb an opponent’s wind and encourage it to tack away.
On the water: You choose this when the opponent’s possible tack supports the side you want to protect.
Tack
Turn the bow through the wind so the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other.
On the water: You change from starboard tack to port tack while sailing upwind.
Gybe
Turn the stern through the wind, changing the side of the sail while sailing downwind.
On the water: You gybe to change your downwind direction.
Port
The left side of your boat when you face the bow.
On the water: Point to your boat’s port side while facing forward.
Starboard
The right side of your boat when you face the bow.
On the water: Point to your boat’s starboard side while facing forward.
Port tack
Sailing with the wind coming from the port side.
On the water: Your sail is normally out on the starboard side.
Starboard tack
Sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side.
On the water: Your sail is normally out on the port side.
Windward
The side or direction toward where the wind comes from.
On the water: The windward side of your boat faces the incoming wind.
Leeward
The side or direction away from where the wind comes from.
On the water: Your sail is usually out on the leeward side.
Upwind
Toward the direction the wind comes from. A sailboat usually zigzags on two tacks to get there.
On the water: You sail a beat to reach the windward mark.
Downwind
Away from the direction the wind comes from.
On the water: You sail downwind toward the leeward gate.
Beat
An upwind leg, usually sailed close-hauled on both tacks.
On the water: The first leg after the start is often a beat.
Reach
Sail across the wind rather than directly upwind or downwind.
On the water: With the wind roughly from the side, you sail a beam reach.
Close-hauled
Sailing as close to the wind as the boat can efficiently sail.
On the water: You trim your sail for the beat and steer to keep speed.
Pointing
How close to the wind your boat can sail while still making useful progress.
On the water: You work on height once the boat has good speed.
Pinching
Trying to sail too close to the wind and losing speed.
On the water: Your sail begins to luff and the boat slows as you point too high.
Footing
Sailing a little lower than your usual close-hauled angle to gain speed.
On the water: You foot through waves or toward new pressure.
Bear away
Turn the bow farther away from the wind.
On the water: You bear away slightly to rebuild speed.
Head up
Turn the bow closer toward the wind.
On the water: You head up carefully while keeping the boat moving.
Luff
A sail flaps because wind is no longer flowing smoothly over it; also used for turning toward the wind.
On the water: The front edge of the sail starts flapping when you point too high.
Trim
Adjust the sail and boat to suit your course and conditions.
On the water: You change the mainsheet as you turn onto a reach.
Ease
Let a rope out to reduce its tension.
On the water: You ease the mainsheet as you bear away.
Sheet in
Pull in the sheet to bring the sail closer to the boat’s centerline.
On the water: You sheet in as you head up toward a close-hauled course.
Gate
Two marks at which you pass between them and round one, as the course instructions require.
On the water: Choose the gate mark that fits your plan for the next beat.
Mark
A buoy or other object used to define the racecourse.
On the water: You round the windward mark as required by the course.
Fleet
A group of boats sailing or racing together.
On the water: You compare your route with the boats in your fleet.
Starting line
The line you cross to begin the race, normally between two defined ends.
On the water: Check where both ends are before the starting signal.
Committee boat
The race officials’ boat, often at one end of the starting line.
On the water: Find the committee boat before planning your start.
Pin end
The buoy end of a typical starting line.
On the water: The pin is at the opposite end from the committee boat.
Favored end
The starting-line end that gives a geometric advantage in the current wind, all else being equal.
On the water: You still need clear air and room; the favored end may be crowded.
Bow
The front of the boat.
On the water: Watch where your bow points compared with the upwind mark.
Stern
The back of the boat.
On the water: During a gybe, the stern turns through the wind.
Boom
The spar along the bottom of the sail.
On the water: Keep aware of the boom as you tack or gybe.
Mast
The upright spar that supports the sail.
On the water: Your Optimist mast holds the sail’s forward edge.
Mainsheet
The rope used to control the mainsail’s angle.
On the water: Ease the mainsheet when you need to let the sail out.
Tiller
The handle you use to turn the rudder and steer the boat.
On the water: Small tiller movements help you steer smoothly.
Rudder
The steering blade at the stern.
On the water: Turning the rudder changes the boat’s direction.
Daggerboard
A board lowered through the hull to resist sideways slipping.
On the water: Check the daggerboard position for the point of sail with your coach.
Hiking
Move your upper body out over the windward side to help balance the boat.
On the water: You hike as the wind strengthens to keep the boat flatter.
Heel
The boat’s sideways tilt.
On the water: A puff can make the boat heel if you do not adjust your balance or sail.
Capsize
When the boat tips over.
On the water: Practise capsize recovery with your coach in suitable conditions.
Telltales
Small yarns or ribbons that help you see airflow around the sail.
On the water: Watch the telltales to help adjust trim and steering.
Current
The movement of water, which carries your boat as you sail.
On the water: Current can affect your route and position at the start.
VMG
Velocity made good: your speed toward a target, such as the upwind mark.
On the water: A higher heading is not always better if it reduces speed too much.