Basic Telltale Control continued
3.1.2 Controlling the telltales by making course adjustments
When making the woolies fly by making course adjustments the rule is also simple. If you’re using a tiller, move the tiller towards the flapping telltale.
Using an example to explain. Imagine you’re sailing along on port and the red (inside) telltale is flapping. Pull the tiller to port (red). This turns the boat away from the wind and will put more wind on the inside of the sail allowing the red to fly properly.
It’s easier to remember all this however by understanding the principle. If a telltale is flapping it’s because there is not enough smooth wind on that side of the sail so make sail adjustments and/or course adjustments to present more of the wind to that side of the sail.
In this example, the boat is on starboard, which way would you turn the boat?
Figure 3.1-4 An Over Trimmed Sail
You’d turn to starboard, right? The red is flapping and is starved of wind. If you turn to starboard you are presenting more wind to the other (port) side of the sail.
