Sail Trim Archives

Tag Archive for: Sail Trim

Is a beam reach relative to true wind or apparent wind

December 11, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Beam reach – true wind or apparent wind – that is the question. Learn about the interplay between theory and practice when sailing a beam reach.

How to Trim the Mainsail – Traveler or Mainsheet?

October 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

The traveler and the mainsheet work dynamically together. Sail like a pro by properly trimming the mainsail using the mainsheet and traveler.

Where are the Wallys

September 19, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Find the Wally and his friends who can’t trim the sails.

Polar Plots and True vs Apparent Wind Triangle – all explained

December 30, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Learn to use polar plot diagrams to generate a true wind / apparent wind/ boat speed triangle. Understand how a decrease in true wind velocity is not a knock and an increase is not a permanent lift with our simple explanation.

Sail Trim – How do sails work?

March 2, 2023/by Trisha Evelyn

Learn how to raise or unfurl sails in this brief glimpse into one of our introductory sailing courses.

How to Raise or Unfurl Sails

January 12, 2023/by Trisha Evelyn

Learn how to raise or unfurl sails in this brief glimpse into one of our introductory sailing courses.

How do Polar Plots Work on a Sailboat?

November 23, 2022/by Grant Headifen

The polar plot on a sailboat shows the speed the sailboat goes at a specific angle to the wind at a specific wind speed. Read this article to understand how they work and how to read a polar plot.

The Chicken Gybe (Jibe)

November 18, 2022/by Grant Headifen

Sometimes in sailing it’s smart to stay safe and not take the dare. The safe maneuver is called the chicken gybe (jibe).

What is Sail Twist and how to use it

October 18, 2022/by Grant Headifen

Managing sail twist can increase the performance, speed, and control of the sails. What is Sail Twist and how to use it…

How to rig a temporary Barber Hauler on a Catamaran

March 14, 2020/by Grant Headifen

Following on from last week’s excellent post by SVN Magazine on Barber Haulers, this week we show how to make your own very simple Barber Hauler while on a catamaran on a sailing vacation (or on your own catamaran). The issue is that the catamarans have their jibsheet track on the rooftop of the salon. […]