Tacking

Tacking

Tacking is a basic maneuver that is relatively easy to perform even in strong winds, provided that good crew coordination is achieved.

Here, the boom passes over the deck but will not sweep everything in its path.

This is why tacking is preferred to gybing when changing tack in strong winds.

Tacking is strongly recommended from force 5 for intermediate crew members and from force 6 for experienced sailors.

tacking

Definition

A tack on a sailboat consists of moving from one tack to the other with the wind coming head-on.

The sails therefore change sides, as they do during a gybe.

Where does the danger come from?

In the case of a tack, a maneuver where the boom passes less violently than during a gybe, the boat also changes tack.

One simply ensures that no one is in the path of the boom, neither standing on the deck nor sitting too high in the cockpit. Taller crew members must make sure to bend down or sit during the tack.

Crew positioning

One person at each genoa winch, depending on the number of crew members available.

One person at the mainsail to manage the sheet and the traveler.

The helmsman directs the maneuver.

No one should be seated next to the mainsail traveler.

Those not involved in the maneuver should move to the stern or inside the boat.

An alert helmsman is worth two...

During a tack, the boat must pass from one side of the wind to the other without any propulsion other than the momentum (speed) built up. To avoid getting stuck head-to-wind in the middle of the maneuver, it is therefore necessary to ensure maximum boat speed, especially to get through waves when the sea is rough.

To do this, the boat must first be set on a close-hauled course, that is between 45 and 60° to the wind (the wind vane points toward the forward quarter of the boat). This is the point of sail (boat-wind angle) at which the boat heels the most.

Nota bene

If the boat “straightens up” and the wind vane points almost along the axis of the boat, the helmsman is sailing too close to the wind. He must then bear away (move away from the wind) to regain enough speed to tack.

If the boat “straightens up” and the wind vane is perpendicular to the boat or slightly aft, the helmsman is too far from the wind. He must then head up (sail closer to the wind) and return to close-hauled to regain sufficient speed to tack.

Maneuver chronology

-check that the mainsail and genoa sheets are coiled and ready to run
-the helmsman brings the boat close-hauled, that is with the wind vane oriented a quarter toward the bow of the boat (if necessary, the crew trim the sails to ensure maximum speed)
-the helmsman announces the maneuver loudly and clearly to the crew with the question?
ready to tack?
-the leeward genoa crew member (the one who will ease the sheet) makes sure he is not standing on the sheet and removes one turn from the winch without easing slack to keep the genoa filled, then announces “ready” to the helmsman
the windward genoa crew member (the one who will trim the sheet) takes two turns of the sheet on the winch clockwise and also announces “ready” to the helmsman
-the mainsail crew member ensures that the sail is driving, that the sheet and traveler tackles are clear and ready to run, then announces “ready” to the helmsman
-the helmsman loudly and clearly announces “tacking” to the crew, then turns the helm hard over to quickly bring the boat into the wind
-when the luff of the genoa begins to flap, the windward crew member quickly eases his sheet, ensuring it runs freely through the turning block

Nota bene

In strong winds, leave one or two turns on the genoa so that the winch absorbs the jolts of the sail on the sheet. When the tension becomes manageable again, remove the remaining turns from the winch to ease the rest of the sheet (this technique does not delay the tack in any way if properly executed).

-when the sails pass from port to starboard or vice versa, the helmsman straightens the helm to maintain a close-hauled course (boat-wind angle between 45 and 60°, the wind vane points toward the forward quarter of the boat)
-the leeward genoa crew member trims the sheet (takes up the slack) by hand with broad movements.

Nota bene

Place one foot back to avoid falls. Warn nearby people to move back to avoid elbow strikes to the face (ouch)

-bring the boat onto its new course
-trim the sails for the new point of sail and continue on course.