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This article is an excerpt from NauticEd’s online FREE Basic Sail Trim Course, an interactive online sailing course for beginner to intermediate sailors to learn the basics of sail trim. Or if you want to learn more, upgrade to the Skipper Course Bundle to become a competent sailor!

You can learn to sail and improve your sailing with NauticEd, the international leader in sailing education.

Sheet In or Sheet Out?

Here are some great examples of how you can read the tell-tales and instantly know what to do. Look at each example and decide what you should be doing.

In the example, click the selection box you think best on the image.

In this example below you are viewing from the starboard side of the boat since the boat is going from left to right. Also, you see the green tell-tale over the top of the red. Red is on the port side of the boat. The green tell-tale is on this side of the window and on the starboard side of the boat.

One more piece of information (which is a bit difficult to see) is that the boat is on a starboard tack (wind coming from the starboard/right side of the boat) you can see this because the genoa is on the other side of the mast – since you can see the mast.

 

Given all the deductions from above, the wind must be coming from your right hand and flowing into the computer screen to the left. The green tell-tale is being starved of air whilst you can see the red has plenty as it is flowing smoothly. This means there is turbulent air on the starboard side of the boat.

If you sheet in (tighten up the sails by pulling on the port side working jib sheet) slightly this will allow the incident wind to flow more smoothly on this side of the sail. The green tell-tale will then start flying backwards smoothly. We show this concept of smooth vs turbulent airflow using moving arrows inside our FREE Basic Sail Trim Course.

i.e. in the above – Sheet in!

If you are struggling with this  – simply take our FREE Basic Sail Trim course. It will make you more knowledgeable than most sailors out there.

FREE Basic Sail Trim Course

FREE Basic Sail Trim Course

Here are some more examples to test your knowledge.

In all cases, the sail is on the other side of the boat (that will help).

So what do you think? Are you ready to take our FREE Basic Sail Trim Course now?

Go there now – what the heck – throw caution, timidity, and fear to the wind! Oh, and it’s free!

 

Learn Basic Sail Trim for FREE...

A FREE 1-2 hour course that teaches how to work with sails to get your boat moving. The free Basic Sail Trim Course is for any aspiring sailor as well as experienced sailors wanting to learn more. Or, consider upgrading to the Skipper Course Bundle to become a fully competent skipper!

Author

  • Grant Headifen

    My vision for NauticEd is to ensure that families and friends get out on the water not only safely but with true COMPETENCE, confidently savoring every moment of their valuable time.

    Achieving this means being the pinnacle of sailing and boating education—offering comprehensive multi-media theoretical instruction coupled with hands-on, on-the-water training through our global network of American National Standards Instructors. We steadfastly avoid becoming a mere certification mill; our focus is on delivering genuine competence, ensuring our students are well-prepared for enjoyable, real-world boating experiences.

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Last updated on June 29th, 2025