| Did you know that there are three fast, easy ways for | | | | Make your approach on a close reach. This reach |
| sailboat cruising skippers to stop their boats--without an | | | | gives you three-way gear-shift control. Here's how: |
| engine? As Olympian Steve Colgate says "To sail well | | | | * To speed up - pull in on your mainsheet |
| is to have complete control over the sailboat at all | | | | * To slow down - ease off on the mainsheet |
| times". These three super tips will put you at the | | | | * To stop - slack the mainsheet all the way |
| helm--in complete control! | | | | No other point of sail allows so much control, along |
| You are approaching a mooring in a new harbor. | | | | with the ability to luff the sails all the way to stop the |
| Crowds of sail and power boats make your course to | | | | boat. You can slow down to a crawl, keep easing the |
| the mooring like a giant slalom course. Or, your engine | | | | mainsheet, and come right up to that mooring buoy, |
| won't start and you need to come alongside a dock | | | | anchor spot, or dock under picture-perfect control |
| under sail. Follow these three easy methods for | | | | every time! |
| perfect control: | | | | 3. Back-wind the Mainsail |
| 1. When in Doubt, Let it Fly! | | | | Steal another super effective strategy from the dinghy |
| Have you ever been sailing and needed to stop right | | | | crowd. Are you sailing toward that dock a bit too fast? |
| away in an emergency? Slack the mainsheet all the | | | | Slack the mainsheet all the way. Still too much speed |
| way and cast off headsail sheets all the way. This | | | | on? Grab the sailboat boom and push it hard back |
| dumps the wind and the boat will round up (turn) into | | | | against the wind. You can also use this back-wind |
| the wind like a windvane. Dinghy sailors use this | | | | technique when anchoring under sail too. Stop the boat, |
| strategy and so can you. If you've run out of ideas, let | | | | lower the anchor, and back-wind the mainsail. This will |
| it fly and you'll stop on a dime! | | | | dig the boat anchor deep into the seabed--without an |
| 2. Shift Gears with a Close Reach | | | | engine. |
| Forget about how to approach on a beat (close | | | | Become master and commander of your cruising |
| hauled) point of sail and then round up into the wind at | | | | sailboat with these three easy sailing techniques. You |
| just the right moment. That's not control--that's | | | | will boost your sailing skipper-skills to higher levels than |
| guesswork. Sure, you might be able to do this most of | | | | you ever thought possible--wherever in the world you |
| the time. But remember the last part of that quote | | | | choose to cruise! |
| says "...at all times". | | | | |