| Sailing Theory | | | | 4. Try any combination of these. |
| The sum of all wind pressure on the sail is called wind | | | | Sailing Terms |
| force. The center of that force, which is above the | | | | Amidships- the middle of the boat. Backwind- the wind |
| water, is called the center of effort (CE). | | | | flowing off the sail. |
| | | | Close Hauled- one of the points of sail; sailing as close |
| A boat performs best when the two forces are in | | | | to the wind as possible. |
| balance. This is when they are positioned one over the | | | | Dead Astern- straight behind |
| other in a vertical line through the boat's sail and hull. | | | | Flaking- Folding the sail. |
| Your job as a sailor is to keep these two forces in | | | | Glide Zone- the distance it take a boat to stop after |
| proper balance so that your boat will sail correctly. | | | | turning head to wind. |
| You keep the boat balanced by shifting your weight | | | | Heave To- to head the boat into the wind in order to |
| and adjusting your sail. | | | | slow it down or stop it. |
| Your boat has weather helm when you have to | | | | Weather- The Sea Breeze |
| constantly pull the tiller towards you to keep the boat | | | | As a sailor you should know about local winds. The |
| straight on course. | | | | cause of these winds is difference in temperature; cold |
| Lee helm is when you do the opposite; pushing the tiller | | | | air is heavier than warm air. The most popular of these |
| towards the sail. Most boats are designed to have a | | | | local winds is the sea breeze. |
| little weather helm. However, too much of it can make | | | | Warm air over the land rises...And is replaced by |
| sailing difficult in anything other than light breezes. If | | | | cooler air sinking over the ocean. |
| your boat has a lot of weather helm, it means the CE | | | | At night the opposite happens. The land quickly loses |
| and the CLR are not in alignment.There is more sail | | | | its heat at night and often falls to a lower temperature |
| pressure aft of the CLR than forward of it. | | | | than the water. This results in a light offshore evening |
| To correct the balance: | | | | wind. |
| 1. Shift your weight aft (back towards the stern) | | | | On a lake or river, the warm air can rise at the edges |
| 2. Pull up the centerboard. | | | | to be replaced by the cool air over the water. This can |
| 3. If your boat has a jib, ease (let out) the mainsail. | | | | result in a nice breeze for sailing. |