Tacking

Tacking with Dave and Betsy Perry

Tacking

Being able to tack effectively and efficiently will make for safer, more enjoyable time on the water.  On the race course, having better tacks than your opponents will be a clear advantage on the windward leg.

What are the steps of a  good tack?  Here's a breakdown:

Prepare to tack:

• • SKIPPER - Be sure you are on a close-hauled course.  Identify whether you are sailing in a puff or a lull.  Look upwind for the next puff.  Check for nearby boats.  When possible, time your tack to happen in flat water and when you have good boat speed.

  • CREW - Identify whether you are sailing in a puff or a lull.  Look upwind for the next puff.  Check for nearby boats.

While tacking:

• • SKIPPER - Put the helm to leeward and over-trim the mainsail at the same time.  Over-trimming the main helps the boat steer to weather.

  • SKIPPER AND CREW - After the boat passes head to wind "roll" the boat in the direction you are turning.  To do so....

    • If you were on the rail upwind, then stay on the rail until the jib is about 50% back-winded.  Then, lean out even more to roll the boat as much as possible.  Stay there until the jib is partially filled on the new close-hauled course.

    • If you were sitting in the boat upwind, then get up onto the rail when the jib is about 50% back-winded, and then stay there until the jib"loads up" on the new close-hauled course.

  • SKIPPER (and crew, if windy) - Flatten the boat coming out of the tack.

    • SKIPPER -  cross to the new windward side.  Use your tiller extension hand to lead yourself across the boat.  Face forward as you cross.  Turn the tiller back to center-line as you cross.  You're steering behind your back at this point in the tack.  Allow the mainsail to ease 6-8 inches as you cross the boat.  While facing forward pass the tiller to the main-sheet hand (aft hand) to execute the "hand switch."  Then, use your forward hand to re-trim the main sheet.  Slide your body forward so you are even with the barney post (main sheet block).

    • CREW - In windy conditions cross to the windward side to help the skipper flatten the boat.  In light air, you will keep your weight where needed to ensure the boat has 5-10 degrees of leeward heel after the tack.  You might ease the jib 1-2 inches to help the boat accelerate on the new tack.  Be sure to communicate the ease to your skipper and work together on the timing for re-trimming the jib.

  • SKIPPER - trim the mainsail harder as the boat builds speed after the tack.  (The finer points of main trim are on the boatspeed page.)

After tacking:

• • SKIPPER - Check jib tell-tales.  Check mainsail trim.

  • SKIPPER AND CREW - Check wait distribution in the boat.

    • skipper should be sitting about even with the main-sheet post.

    • Boat should have some leeward heel (5-10 degrees).  The skipper always sits to weather, but may have to sit inboard in light air.  The crew sits where needed to ensure leeward heel.

Tacking Practice Video