Learn to sail in 15 minutes.
Everything you need to know to get out on the water.
First Things First
These are the fundamentals—everything you go on to learn as a sailor will trace back to what you learn right here. I believe you’ll be ready to go sailing at the end of this lesson, but I highly recommend you head out with a friend or instructor. Mother nature plays by her own rules and you should play it safe.
Update: It’s wonderful to see how many people have read through this and reached out for advice. I’ve started bringing together a network of clubs on sailingtutorials.com to get beginners out for some free practice time on the water. More at the end of this lesson if you’re interested!
If you have any questions at all, find me on twitter. I’ll answer.
Let’s get started!
I. Anatomy of a sailboat.
Sailboats come in countless shapes and sizes to meet every combination of personal taste, geography, and intended use. But they all share a few crucial features that make sailing possible.
Mast
Tall vertical pole that carries the sail high in the air.
Boom
Horizontal pole connected to the mast that attaches to the bottom of the sail to control its angle and shape.
Sail
Large, billowy piece of tarp-like material. Usually triangular. Very occasionally has skulls on it.
Keel or Centerboard
A fin running lengthwise under the water to guide the boat in the right direction. Imagine an upside down shark.
Rudder
A moveable fin at the back of the boat that allows it to turn.
Check figure I above. That’s all you need to know for now.
II. Sailing Physics
Knowing how sails work will be your most valuable skill. If you understand sailing theory, the basics of actually sailing will feel remarkably intuitive.
a. Windward and Leeward
It’s time you learn your first sailing terms — windward and leeward (pronounced loo’ard).
The term windward simply means “towards the wind” and leeward means “away from the wind.” For example, the windward side of a boat is the side the wind hits first. The opposite side is “to leeward.”
Blow on your palm. Your palm is the windward side of your hand and the back of your hand is the leeward side. It’s that simple. If you flip your hand and try again, your palm is now to leeward.
These terms show up frequently, because the wind nearly always blows across a sailboat, rather than from directly ahead or behind.
b. Sail Shape
The science of sailing starts with the rounded, triangular* shape of the sail. The sail’s frontmost edge connects with the mast and its bottom edge runs horizontally along the boom. The sail itself is cut with some roundness, which lets the sail billow just a bit.
*Sails aren’t always triangular. In fact, everything I said isn’t always true, but it usually is.
c. Push and Lift
With a rounded sail, the resulting curvature allows for two types of power — push from the wind hitting the windward side of the sail and lift from the wind rushing along the leeward side. (Reminder: the back of your hand is the leeward side when you blow air on your palm.)
Push from windward is intuitive. The wind hits the sail and pushes it in the same direction.
Lift is a little trickier to explain. Similar to airplane wings, sails create pressure differences in the air that pull the boat forward.
Here’s an example: with the boom (and thus, the sail, since they’re connected) at about 45º to the oncoming wind, the wind splits at the mast to the sail’s windward and leeward sides. The wind pushes against the windward side, which fills the sail and creates a wing-like curve. The leeward wind sticks to this curve (thanks to physics) and speeds up to keep up with its windward sibling. This results in a drop in pressure which creates a suction that pulls the boat to leeward*.
*For a more detailed explanation, look up Bernoulli’s Principle.
Lift can’t happen without this curved sail shape, so a bit of wind should always be hitting the windward side of the sail to keep it full and round. If there’s not enough wind to fill the sail from the windward side, the sails won’t work. They’ll flap in the breeze like a flag.
d. The Keel
In our example, the combined power of push from windward and lift from leeward is not directed straight ahead, but at an angle. The keel, or vertical fin on the underside of the boat, resists the resulting sideways motion and guides the boat in a straight line. In short, the power from the sails plus the lateral resistance of the keel equals blissful forward motion.
Congratulations — that’s the basic science of sailing! It takes some sailors years to figure this out. Feel free to take a break, blow on your palm again, and get ready for the good stuff.
III. Sail Control
Your job as a sailor is to maintain forward motion by keeping your sail powered up with push and lift at all times. This means keeping track of the wind and constantly adjusting the boom as you sail around*.
*I can’t even begin to explain how fun this is.
a. Watching the Wind
It’s important to know where the wind is coming from, because if you lose track, it won’t be easy to maintain power in your sail. This can definitely be a challenge since it’s invisible and tends to shift in speed and direction.
Fortunately, the signs become more visible with practice. Try to keep an eye on flags, ripples on the water, or the orientation of other boats. Most sailboats have weathervanes onboard that rotate and point in the direction of the oncoming wind, and some have digital indicators showing the exact wind direction down to the degree.
Alternatively, you can check the wind direction by looking towards the wind and listening for the wind to pass equally by both of your ears. Try it next time you’re outside.
b. Adjusting the Sail
Sailors love to meticulously adjust the shape of a sail, from its overall position to the tension of individual sections. On a sailboat, the rope we use are always called lines. A line that adjusts a sail is known as a sheet.
As with nearly all equipment on a boat, there are specific names for every sheet. For now, we’ll focus on the sheet that controls the angle of the boom and mainsail, aptly known as the mainsheet.
The mainsheet generally runs through a block, or pulley, to make adjusting a sail easier despite the wind pounding against it. This block may have a cleat that locks the mainsheet in place. The mainsheet should always be locked in your hand or in a cleat.
Using the mainsheet is the most fundamental part of trimming a sail.
c. Sail Trim
Sail trim refers to the shape of a sail, which sailors can adjust in countless ways to respond to the wind. In the most basic sense, to trim a sail is to use the mainsheet to hold the boom at the correct angle to the wind. Letting the mainsheet out lets the wind push the boom further out, while trimming it in forces the sail to stay in place.
Pick up anything. The weight in your hand is like the wind hitting your sails. Trimming your sail feels like moving your hand up and down.
The right sail trim depends on where the wind is coming from and where the boat is heading. The combination of these two factors is known as a point of sail.
To get a nice sail curve powered up with push and lift, the correct angle for the boom is about 45º to the oncoming wind. If the wind is coming from behind the boat, there’s no way to do this, so the correct angle would be perpendicular to the wind.
IV. Points of Sail
A point of sail refers to a sailboat’s direction in relation to wind direction. Each point of sail has a name, general procedures for maintaining proper sail trim, and a distinctive feel.
Since the direction of the wind determines a point of sail, it changes whenever the wind shifts or the boat turns.
In Irons
A boat can sail into the wind thanks to the sail’s curve and lateral resistance from the keel. But without enough wind to fill the curve, there’s no way to create power. This means it’s impossible to sail directly into the wind — into the no-go zone.
Sailors call this point of sail in irons. If a boat is in irons, the sail will luff, or flap powerlessly in the wind. :(
Getting caught in irons can be frustrating, but it’s actually a very useful technique. For example, pointing directly into the wind takes the load off the sail, which is necessary when raising the sail. It’s like hitting the brakes if you do it on purpose.
Close Hauled
The closest you can sail towards the wind is at a 45º angle to either side. This point of sail is known as close-hauled. With the boat itself at a 45º angle to the wind, the boom must be trimmed as close to the centerline of the boat as possible. This means pulling in on the mainsheet until the boom is right over the cockpit.
While close-hauled, the sail is nearly parallel with the hull, so most of its power is directed towards the side of the boat. This causes the boat to heel, or tip over. A heavy keel will keep you from capsizing, but you may need to move your body to balance a smaller boat.
Close Reach
Pointing around 60º off the wind is known as a close reach. This point of sail is similar to a close haul, but with the boom eased out a bit to maintain a proper sail curve.
By the way, there’s a common technique for making sure a sail is trimmed correctly: when in doubt, let it out. When sailing into the wind, ease out the mainsheet until the sail starts to flutter, and then trim it in only until the fluttering stops. Keep that in mind!
Beam Reach
Sailing perpendicular to the wind is known as a beam reach. To sail at a beam reach, the sail should be eased out about halfway to position the sail at 45º to the wind. Once again, to make sure the sail is trimmed correctly, let it out until it starts to bubble, then bring it back in until it stops.
At this point of sail, the sail harnesses the most of both push and lift, and the drive from the sails is directed as close as possible to the bow of the boat. As a result, a beam reach is the fastest point of sail in most conditions.
Broad Reach
At a broad reach, you’re sailing at about 45º to either side of directly downwind. At this point of sail, the boom can’t be slacked out any further, so instead of a curve, the sail is positioned perpendicular to the wind coming from behind.
Running
Sailing with the wind coming directly from behind is known as running. Like a broad reach, the sail should be perpendicular to the wind.
Running is one of the more touchy points of sail. The wind and waves can cause the boat to steer itself side-to-side, which consistently makes people seasick. As well, if the wind shifts and connects with the leeward side of the sail, the boom can quickly and dangerously swing across the cockpit. Just watch the sails and keep your head down at a run, and you’ll be just fine.
Many of the troublesome aspects of sailing at a run disappear at a broad reach. The chances of a wind shift swinging the boom across the deck is reduced, the sea-sickening swaying stops, and the sails can start generating a small amount of lift, which makes it a faster course than a pure run.
If your destination is directly downwind, a run will get you there. But many sailors prefer sailing on a safer point of sail.
V. Navigating
Getting moving begins with picking out a target, like a house or tree, a buoy, or a cloud on the horizon. Then, by comparing the boat’s direction with that of the wind, trimming for the right point of sail and keeping the boat moving straight.
But even with consistent wind and a perfectly trimmed sail, a single point of sail is only useful for so long. With shifting wind, boat traffic, or a destination into the no-go zone, you eventually need to change direction.
Basic navigation is effectively combining points of sail that get you from point A to point B using a few basic sailing maneuvers.
VI. Sailing Maneuvers
Sail trim is just the first of a few fundamental sailing techniques that sailors use to change direction and switch between each point of sail.
a. Steering
Steering is simple, either a tiller or wheel controls the rudder, which turns the boat. But there are still a few best practices.
The rudder only works when the boat is moving, so it’s important to maintain forward motion when trying to steer. Steering too far or too frequently can slow the boat down, so it’s also important to steer gradually.
Some vocab: steering the bow of the boat towards the wind is known as heading up. After heading up, the sail must be trimmed in to maintain an effective angle of attack. Steering away from the wind is falling off. The sail must be eased when falling off.
b. Tacking
Tacking is the act of turning the bow of the boat through the no-go zone, so the windward side of the boat becomes the leeward side, and vice versa.
Since a boat can’t sail directly into the wind, sailors tack back and forth in a zigzag instead. Think about tacking like a running jump across the no-go zone from close-hauled to close-hauled.
i. Be aware
Before you tack, look around to make sure the coast is clear and find a new landmark to aim for.
ii. Be moving
Make sure the boat has enough momentum to sustain through the maneuver, since the sail will lose power during the tack. Without sufficient forward motion, you may get stuck halfway through.
iii. Steer smoothly
Next, turn smoothly into the wind. Turning too sharply might slow you down to the point of getting stuck in-irons. The sail will start to flutter in the wind.
iv. Stay clear
As the sail flutters, the boom will rattle its way towards the center of the boat. Stay low, keep hold on the tiller (or wheel) and mainsheet, and duck under the swinging boom when the wind catches the sail. Watch out for lines too.
v. Straighten out
At the end of a tack, quickly get settled and check to be sure you’re pointed towards your new target. Check your sail trim and enjoy the new view!
c. Jibing
Jibing is the act of switching the windward and leeward sides of the boat while sailing downwind. A jibe is like a tack, except the boom will be further out and the sail won’t lose power, which results in a much less peaceful “jump” from one broad reach to the other.
Be aware
As with tacking, make sure the coast is clear and plan your next point of sail.
Be ready
Jibing can be very dangerous. The boom has a greater distance to travel and will always have the wind pushing it. Make sure you’re ready and then make sure you’re ready again.
Stay very clear
Keep. Your. Head. Down. :)
Steer slowly
Control is critical when jibing. Slowly steer the stern of the boat through the wind and keep an eye out for when the sail begins to bubble.
Help the sail
Trimming the sail in hard and fast during a jibe helps to take control of when and how far the boom swings.
Straighten out
Once the boom swings, ease the mainsheet back out and check to make sure you’re heading towards your new target. Keep an eye on the wind!
d. Slowing Down
Slowing down is an important technique. To slow down, simply ease your sail out until it luffs or steer the bow directly into the wind. If you’re sailing downwind, you’ll need to head up towards the no-go zone.
VII. Setting Sail
Congratulations! That’s all you need to know for now. It takes most beginners months to learn what you’ve learned. Obviously there’s no substitute for real practice, but it’s hugely beneficial to know what to expect. You really should feel confident. And I hope you feel excited.
What to Wear
Layer up! It can be hot and sunny on the way out and cold and windy on the way in, so be prepared for both with a waterproof jacket, a hat, and sunscreen. If you have hiking clothes, those will work great.
Keep your belongings secure. I’ve seen too many phones slide across the deck into the ocean for one lifetime.
As for footwear, any non-marking, closed-toed shoes will do.
You will probably get wet.
Above all, wear a life jacket.
Stay Safe
While you’ve learned a lot, it can be dangerous to go alone. Mother nature can be unforgiving, and it does considerable sailing experience to know how to stay safe. So please find a friend or instructor who can take you out and help you put these ideas to use.
Join the Community
If you’re lucky enough to live by the ocean, there’s likely a community sailing center that would love to have you. If you’re by any big lakes, there may be one there too.
Come hang out with us online! Post on Reddit’s /r/sailing or Sailing Anarchy and get to know the incredible community, see if any of your friends have a dinghy you can try, or, if you’re up for it, introduce yourself to someone at a local marina and let them know you’re learning. Feel free to say you learned on sailingtutorials.com.
And when you do finally get out on the water, please let me know how it goes.
Friends, Instructors, & Mentors at SailingTutorials.com
Need help finding a club, class, or a crew to join? Create an account at SailingTutorials.com or reach out to me at kyle@sailingtutorials.com and I’ll personally help you get out on the water.
If this helped, please give this tutorial a few 👏🏻👏🏼👏🏾s. Your support encourages me to write more.
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