Basic tips

cadete

Hi all, this may be a bit silly but i hope someone can help, my mates and i are doing the virtual volvo ocean race and i have no clue about sailing. Could anyone give me some tips on what way to sail into head winds etc? cheers and i am very greatfull for any help

lightening

Hi Cadette. I crew on an X-Yacht in Dublin bay, not exactly ocean racing, but I will help as best I can. To sail against the wind you have to tack. This means sailing a few degrees off the wind. The sails act more like an airplanes wing than a "kite" type of sail.

So if you are trying to get from one place to another against the wind you could do it in a series of zig zags, or you could sail miles off in one leg and then do one tack and sail to your destination. Loads of things will affect your decision; Is there more wind miles out West? Will the tide help me? If I do the long leg will I hit that storm? If I do a long leg in the opposit direction will I hit the doldrums, or catch the trade winds?

Enjoy.