SAILING SKILLS

LESSON 5: RUNNING

Diagram of a Boat Running
When sailing directly downwind - toward the 6 on the clock - the sails will have been eased until they are out as far as they can go. At this point, the wind is from directly behind the boat and the jib will not fill with wind unless it is "winged" - pulled over to the side of the boat opposite the mainsail. With the jib and the mainsail on opposite sides, the wind will push the boat downwind, but we will see that the jib telltales are stalled. The wind is merely pushing the sail now; the sail is no longer developing lift.




On to Lesson 6: Gybing -->