There is nothing more appropriate than learning to maneuver your boat if you want to be able to accomplish sailing. Do you know how to probably turn your boat if necessary? Because otherwise you will be having problems in handling your boat. Whatever the conditions at sea is, you have to be ready with your techniques and skills.
Techniques in Maneuvering
Here are simple maneuver skills you have to learn:
Techniques in Tacking
There is a technique called tacking that may be very simple for many, but one that is important to learn such as when to tack and how is it done. Technically speaking taking or coming about is when a sailing bells turns its bow across the wind in order to change the wind to the other side. So when a helmsman takes a tacking maneuver it means that the sailboat is steered in the direction of the wind such that it will pass over the bow of the vessel.
Gibing
Gibing is one important technique that would require more practice. Unlike other types of maneuvering techniques, this one needs everyone's effort and has to understand the instructions. This technique also needs to carry out their move properly at that specific moment when it is necessary. This is essential so that the boat will not capsize and the balance of the vessel is great while performing the maneuver. The other name for this maneuver is jibe or gybe, and all throughout this maneuver the sheet should be held tightly such that when it is time to perform gibing the wind load on the vessel is decreased and the main sheet can be released from grasp. This will enable to wind to fill the vessel and the correct position of the main sheet can be achieved.
Techniques in Mooring & Docking
Another essential technique in maneuvering the sailboat is docking. Wind conditions like when it is too windy, ability of the boat to withstand challenges because of its features, whether it is low tide or high tide, the boats in the area where you are sailing - all of these affects how good you are in sailing.
It is not advisable for you to practice how to dock when there are lots of sailboats around and the possibility of an accident is high. Before you begin docking, you need to calculate your moves, consider the weather and look at the harbor scenario. Consider the wind when you think of docking. Should you need to do brake, the wind will be the one to provide this to you. Strong winds must be dealt with carefully because they might cause major disasters with other sailboats in the area especially when you are still new.
Mooring techniques are heavily dependent on the presence of tide or tide movements Ensure that you have an adequate length of mooring line when tying up your boat. There are varying height of the high and low tide that could be from a few feet to forty feet. You need to ensure that there is enough allowance for your boat to go with the low tide.
Slowing down while docking is most often not enough which is why you will have to reverse a little to lead off the excess momentum. Big sailboats would require at least a couple of fenders hanging on their sides which are used for docking. These items are essentially inflatable rubber balloons that protect the boat from bumping into the dock too hard. Whether you're docking or getting ready to sail, try to find out where the wind is coming from.
It is oftentimes more convenient to attach your boat you a buoy than to a fixed pontoon. To anchor off on a buoy, the best way would be to line it up on your bow with your crew ready to hook it up. Your crew has to hook up the short end with the short rope attached to the buoy and immediately tie it down tight on your boat's mooring cleat. The buoy acts like an anchor since it is attached to a heavy block of concrete via a long thick rope.
It is the hope of this author that beginners or amateurs in boat sailing use this article to help them out in the basics of maneuvering, sailing and docking a sailboat. I strongly believe that you keep the job halfway done as long as you study the basics before applying them.
Techniques in Maneuvering
Here are simple maneuver skills you have to learn:
Techniques in Tacking
There is a technique called tacking that may be very simple for many, but one that is important to learn such as when to tack and how is it done. Technically speaking taking or coming about is when a sailing bells turns its bow across the wind in order to change the wind to the other side. So when a helmsman takes a tacking maneuver it means that the sailboat is steered in the direction of the wind such that it will pass over the bow of the vessel.
Gibing
Gibing is one important technique that would require more practice. Unlike other types of maneuvering techniques, this one needs everyone's effort and has to understand the instructions. This technique also needs to carry out their move properly at that specific moment when it is necessary. This is essential so that the boat will not capsize and the balance of the vessel is great while performing the maneuver. The other name for this maneuver is jibe or gybe, and all throughout this maneuver the sheet should be held tightly such that when it is time to perform gibing the wind load on the vessel is decreased and the main sheet can be released from grasp. This will enable to wind to fill the vessel and the correct position of the main sheet can be achieved.
Techniques in Mooring & Docking
Another essential technique in maneuvering the sailboat is docking. Wind conditions like when it is too windy, ability of the boat to withstand challenges because of its features, whether it is low tide or high tide, the boats in the area where you are sailing - all of these affects how good you are in sailing.
It is not advisable for you to practice how to dock when there are lots of sailboats around and the possibility of an accident is high. Before you begin docking, you need to calculate your moves, consider the weather and look at the harbor scenario. Consider the wind when you think of docking. Should you need to do brake, the wind will be the one to provide this to you. Strong winds must be dealt with carefully because they might cause major disasters with other sailboats in the area especially when you are still new.
Mooring techniques are heavily dependent on the presence of tide or tide movements Ensure that you have an adequate length of mooring line when tying up your boat. There are varying height of the high and low tide that could be from a few feet to forty feet. You need to ensure that there is enough allowance for your boat to go with the low tide.
Slowing down while docking is most often not enough which is why you will have to reverse a little to lead off the excess momentum. Big sailboats would require at least a couple of fenders hanging on their sides which are used for docking. These items are essentially inflatable rubber balloons that protect the boat from bumping into the dock too hard. Whether you're docking or getting ready to sail, try to find out where the wind is coming from.
It is oftentimes more convenient to attach your boat you a buoy than to a fixed pontoon. To anchor off on a buoy, the best way would be to line it up on your bow with your crew ready to hook it up. Your crew has to hook up the short end with the short rope attached to the buoy and immediately tie it down tight on your boat's mooring cleat. The buoy acts like an anchor since it is attached to a heavy block of concrete via a long thick rope.
It is the hope of this author that beginners or amateurs in boat sailing use this article to help them out in the basics of maneuvering, sailing and docking a sailboat. I strongly believe that you keep the job halfway done as long as you study the basics before applying them.
