The
basic knowledge of sail trim is knowing that the different configurations of the sails
in different winds will power the sailboat and together with the rudder
makes the sailboat go in the direction you want it to go. Sail trim is
altering the effect of the wind with the sails.
A sail that sits and flaps in the breeze has no power to move the sailboat. When the sail is pulled to one side of the sailboat to catch the wind, this is called sheeting the sail or pulling in the sail. When we continue to sheet in the sail we will reach the point where the sail has the maximum power, where the wind flowing across the sail produces enough power to pull the sailboat. If you sheet in the sail or trim it too much it will lose power because you will disrupt the flow of the wind and it will not produce the power needed to drive the sailboat, it will just push on the sails.The only time you want the wind to push on the sails is when you have the sail trim set to run downwind or with the wind. Ideally you have the mainsail on one side of the boat and the jib on the other and your sail trim is said to be set “wing on wing”. Sailing videos are a great way to get knowledge to improve your sail trim adjustments. Buy or rent a video today and start learning to go faster under sail!
When a sailboat has two sails it has a main and a jib. The jib forms a slot that the wind passes through and in this slot the air speeds up. The power of this slot not only drives the sailboat forward but helps it point more in the direction of the wind. The Manual of Sail Trim is a book that helps explain this art of learning how to set the sails. When you say you are going to "trim the sails" or "set the sails" or "tune the sails", you are saying the same thing 3 different ways. When you pull the sails in tight you are said to be close hauled. When you are sailing close hauled in one direction you are said to be beating. If the wind is coming over the starboard side of your sailboats hull, the wind will drive your sails to the port side and you are said to be on a starboard tack. If the wind is coming over the port side of your hull and the sails are off the starboard side you are said to be on a port tack.
You cannot sail directly into the wind because your sails would just flap or luff. You therefore must sail windward, close hauled on a port or starboard tack and changing directions, or changing tacks, to zig zag your way up wind. We call this tacking. Tacking is changing from one direction to another. Tacking is like going around a corner and sailing momentum can either be gained or lost at this time. “Practice makes perfect” so they say and tacking is an art that can benefit from a lot of practice. It is best to maintain momentum throughout the maneuver of changing directions or tacking. Because the wind direction stays the same your sail position will be altered, or trimmed, in order to keep the sailboat moving in the direction you want it to go.
Close-Hauled Art Print
Jacobson, Dan
Buy at AllPosters.com
Be sure to let your crew know which tack you are taking because the boom swings with a lot of power and it can knock someone out or overboard. A shout of “coming about” will have the crew lowering their heads for a tack to avoid getting hit by the boom and then they will know to change sides of the sailboat quickly to keep the momentum going to make the turn and keep the speed.
Sail trim is ultimately about catching the wind. This article cannot cover every aspect of sail trim but judging the wind direction in order to set the sails is clearly the first step. You can feel the wind on your face, watch for ripples in the water, look for water spray or look at flags that are near by. If you have trouble figuring out the direction of the wind, watch the birds. They always know the direction of the wind and will always land and stand facing into it.
When the sails are set a sailboat can ride heeled over to one side. This can be fun and exciting but often it is not the most efficient way to sail. You need to keep your keel as deep as possible in the water in order to keep the boat from slipping sideways. With the mast vertical, it will present the largest possible sail area to the wind. When a gust of wind comes, the helmsman has the responsibility
to let the sails out to spill the wind and to bring the mast back to
vertical as soon as possible to regain the power that could have been
lost. This balance between boat heeling and maximum efficiency is very
delicate and takes a lot of practice to master. Practice looking for
signs that a gust is about it hit. Experience will let you take action
at the critical moment. This can be especially important in racing or
sailing a small boat.With the sport of sailing, sail trim goes hand in hand with steering and making tactical decisions whether you are racing or just on a sailboat ride on a sunny afternoon. Sail trim is what sailing is all about. Catching the wind is easy to learn but can take a lifetime to perfect. It is art and science together on the water.
