Sailing Terms Archives - Lake St Clair Sailing School

Points of Sail

The term Points of Sail describes the direction a sailboat is traveling relative to the wind. Mastering these is key to sailing efficiently and safely. Here’s a breakdown: In Irons (Head to Wind Wind angle: 0° (wind is blowing directly over the bow). Description: The boat is pointed directly into the wind, and the sails luff (flap). The boat loses momentum and cannot steer. Tip: Turn the bow through the wind (tack) to regain power in the sails. Close-Hauled (Beating) Wind angle: 30–45° (wind comes from slightly forward of the beam). Description: Sailing as close to the wind as possible. Sails are pulled in tightly (trimmed), and the boat heels (leans) significantly. Tip:…

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January 30, 2025

Getting to Know Beam Reach

Getting to Know Beam Reach Understanding the Beam Reach The Beam Reach is a specific point of sail where your boat is positioned at a right angle to the wind direction. This means the wind is blowing directly from the side of your boat. This position offers a great balance between speed and stability, making it a popular choice for sailors. Mastering the Technique To harness the power of the wind at a Beam Reach, you'll need to master the art of sail trim. This involves adjusting the sails to capture the optimal amount of wind. The main sail is controlled by the mainsheet, while the jib is controlled by the jib sheet.…

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November 26, 2024

Beam Reach

Sailing Courses / Sailing Lessons / Sailing Terms

Sailing at the Close Reach

Understanding Close Reach 'Points of sail' refers to the different positions at which a sailboat can sail relative to the wind direction. Each point of sail comes with its unique sail adjustments and considerations for effective boat handling. Sailing at a 'Close Reach' means sailing at a sharp angle into the wind (upwind), typically about 45 degrees off the bow (front). To achieve optimal speed while maintaining forward direction, the boat should be correctly positioned to the wind, and the sails should be properly trimmed (set). Sailing on a close reach Mechanics of Sailing at the Close Reach When the wind comes from behind the boat, it simply pushes the sail. However, when…

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November 26, 2024

Read more about the article Sailing at the Close Reach

Sailing on a close reach

Sailing Courses / Sailing Lessons / Sailing Terms

Sailing at Broad Reach: A Beginner’s Guide

Sailing at Broad Reach: A Beginner's Guide This guide provides a clear and concise introduction to sailing at a Broad Reach, perfect for those new to sailing or looking to improve their skills. What is a Broad Reach? In sailing, the "Point of Sail" refers to the boat's position relative to the wind's direction. A Broad Reach is when the wind comes from behind the boat at an angle greater than 90 degrees (but not directly behind). This is in contrast to a Close Reach (wind less than 90 degrees from the front) and a Beam Reach (wind directly at a 90-degree angle). Sailing at Broad Reach Sails are controlled by lines called…

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November 2, 2024

Sailing Courses / Sailing Lessons / Sailing Terms

Lake St. Clair Sailing School

Lake St. Clair Sailing School is located in Harrison Township, Michigan and offers a variety of sailing classes and courses for beginners and experienced sailors. They are an American Sailing Association (ASA) certified training facility, which means that their instructors are qualified to teach ASA courses and their students can earn ASA certifications. Here are some of the classes that the Lake St. Clair Sailing School offers: Basic Keelboat Sailing: This course is for beginners and teaches the fundamentals of sailing, including how to rig and launch a sailboat, how to sail different points of sail, and how to maneuver the boat in various conditions. Intermediate Keelboat Sailing: This course is for sailors…

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November 2, 2024

Sailing Courses / Sailing Lessons / Sailing Terms

Pre-Departure Checklist for Sailboats

Pre-Departure Checklist for Sailboats Before Setting Sail: Weather Forecast: Check the weather conditions for your intended boating area and time frame. Vessel Inspection: Steering and Throttle: Ensure they operate smoothly. Lights: Verify all lights are functioning correctly. Fuel System: Inspect for leaks in the tank, lines, and carburetor. Engine Compartment: Check for oil leaks. Hoses: Examine for leaks, cracks, and tight clamps. Bilge: Drain water and secure the plug. Fuel Supply: Confirm sufficient fuel or know where to refuel. Battery and Extinguishers: Ensure they are fully charged and functional. ECOS and Lanyard: If equipped, check their condition. PFDs: Verify you have the required number and that they are in good condition. Float Plan:…

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October 14, 2024

Sailing Terms

True North and Magnetic North

There’s a North Pole, where Santa lives stuck in the ground and secondly, there’s a Magnetic North, where the magnets live our steering compasses, and our handheld compasses are magnetic devices, and they point towards magnetic north not True North. However, our charts are all orientated to True North. The resulting angle between magnetic north, and true north is what we call variation and it will change according to where you are on the planet. So why do we do this? Why don’t we just orient our magnet and be done with it orientated towards the North Pole? True North because it’s a fixed position on the globe and it doesn’t move. However,…

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December 15, 2023

Sailing Terms

Magnetic North vs True North: Understanding Variation and Deviation in Navigation

True North and Magnetic North In the world of navigation, two terms often get tossed around: true north and magnetic north. While they sound similar, they're not exactly the same. Understanding the difference between them is crucial for accurate navigation, especially when relying on a compass. True North True north refers to the fixed point on Earth's axis around which the planet spins. It's like a giant bullseye at the top of the globe. Magnetic north, on the other hand, is the direction the compass needle points. It's not fixed and can vary depending on your location on Earth. This difference between true north and magnetic north is called variation. Maps and directions…

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December 15, 2023

Magnetic North vs True North: Understanding Variation and Deviation in Navigation

Sailing Classes / Sailing Terms

How to Trim Mainsail to Make your Sailboat Go Faster!

When we look to trimming our mainsail, we really do need to understand the principles of sail twist and why sail twist is so important. As your boat sails along, the wind hitting the top of the sail is a little bit stronger than the wind hitting the bottom of the sail. For this reason, the top of the sail needs to be slightly looser than the bottom. This is where sail twist comes in. By using the mainsheet, the traveller, and the vang, depending on the point of sail, we can get air to move smoothly and drive the boat across all points of that mainsail. This will lead you to have…

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March 11, 2022

Read more about the article How to Trim Mainsail to Make your Sailboat Go Faster!

Sailing Terms

Glossary of Sailing Terms AAbaft: A location on the boat but further to the rear of the boat. “The tiller is abaft the mast.Abeam: The beam is the widest part of the boat. When another boat is abeam, it is at a right angle off the beam to either the starboard or port side of the boat you are on.Aft: When on a boat you refer to the stern part of the boat as being aft or to the rear of the boat.Ahead: A term used to describe the area in front of the boat you are on. “Look ahead.Aids to Navigation: This includes all external systems like channel markers, preferred route buoys, danger and safe water buoys,…

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May 9, 2021