Mon Prof Augmenté
Wind and Sail Trim
Age 14 · Sports
A sailboat cannot head straight into the wind, so it sails at an angle to it. The angle between the boat’s heading and the wind decides how far the sail is let out.
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In the picture
- Wind arrow: the direction the wind is blowing toward
- Boat closest to the wind: sheet hauled in tight, sail almost flat along the hull
- Boat with the wind on its side: sheet eased halfway out
- Boat with the wind behind its side: sheet let far out
- Jagged wake trail: a boat tacking back and forth to gain ground straight upwind
Examples
- Climbing against the wind is like walking up a steep hill in zigzags instead of straight.
- Like a kite: line pulled tight when the wind comes from the side, slack when you run with the wind.
Key takeaways
- Pointed straight into the wind, the sail flutters and the boat stops.
- Closer to the wind means trimming the sheet in tighter; further from the wind means letting it out.
Quiz: Wind and Sail Trim (Age 14)
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If a sailboat points straight into the wind, what happens?
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As a sailboat turns closer to the wind, what should be done with the sheet?
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Why does a sailboat tack back and forth when trying to make progress straight upwind?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
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