Basic knowledge of sailing

Sailboats can’t be taken directly into the wind or they run the risk of stopping (when there’s literally no wind in your sails). Depending on your point of sail — the direction of the boat in relation to the direction of the wind — different sail settings are needed. You can set your main sail by listening to it: Ease the sail out until it flaps along the luff, the part closest to the mast, and then pull it back in just until the flapping stops.

A boat must also stay balanced from end-to-end. Generally, the front of a boat (bow) is raised slightly higher than the back (stern), and the distribution of body weight on board (you and the crew) is key to maintaining that balance. If you find your boat is dragging in the water (an example of what happens when the back of the boat is too low), move your weight closer to the middle or front of the boat. If the bow is submerging in the water, take a seat toward the back of the boat. A correctly balanced boat allows you to sail more quickly.

5. Getting from point A to point B isn’t always a straight course, especially if the straight course takes you directly into the wind. Planning a route that gets you to your destination in the shortest possible time is called “course made good.” This is generally accomplished through a maneuver called tacking, in which the boat is steered in a zigzag, upwind direction.