Points of Sail

Question 1

Wind direction coming directly at you - you are heading straight to wind you are:

Answer 1

In Irons - No Sail Zone. At the top, from about 10:30 to 1:30 (depending on your boat and the wind speed) is the no-sail zone. It is physically impossible for a boat to sail directly toward any direction within that roughly 90-degree zone. If you try, the sails begin to flap, losing their power, and the boat will come to a halt. At either edge of the no-sail zone are the two close-hauled courses, so called because the sails are hauled as close to the boat’s centerline as they will go.

Question 2

Wind direction coming directly at you - you turn slightly to the 11 or 2 o’clock position, you are

Answer 2

Close-Hauled: At either edge of the no-sail zone are the two close-hauled courses, so called because the sails are hauled as close to the boat’s centerline as they will go.

Question 3

As the boat’s course turns away from the wind, it enters a zone called

Answer 3

it enters a zone called reaching, where the wind is coming across the boat. Reaching is such a broad zone that we divide it up into three parts: Close-Reach / Beam-Reach / Broad-Reach

Question 4

When the boat is sailing at 90 degrees to the wind,

Answer 4

Beam reaching when the boat is sailing at 90 degrees to the wind,

Question 5

Reaching is such a broad zone that we divide it up into three parts - they are:

Answer 5

Close-Reach / Beam-Reach / Broad-Reach

Question 6

As the course (line) gets closer to close-hauled - heading upwind and moving into wind / starting to move out of a reach

Answer 6

Close reaching

Question 7

When the boat’s heading is farther down the face of our clock.

Answer 7

Broad-reaching

Question 8

A boat sailing directly away from the wind, (wind at your back) toward 6 o’clock or within a few minutes of it), is running or sailing downwind.

Answer 8

Running or sailing downwind.