North Harbour Sailing Club Established 1948 Introduction to Dinghy Sailing AYF - TL1 Course Notes CONTENTS Introduction. Safety. Parts of the Boat. Rigging. Boat Handling. Leaving and Returning to Shore. Points of Sailing. Capsize. Towing. Boat Control. Balance and Trim. Beating, Running, Reaching and Heaving To. Tacking and Gybing (Jibing) Rules of the Road. Weather, Tides and Navigation Marks. Glossary
Introduction. These notes have been developed by the North Harbour Sailing Club to supplement the theory and practical lessons of The Australian Yachting Federation National Proficiency Scheme for Dinghies (TL1) course. The aim of the course is to introduce you to the necessary skills to sail safely and enjoyably. The only way to become better at sailing is to regularly practice the skills you have learnt. As part of the course you will be issued with a TL1 logbook. You are encouraged to keep a log of your experience as crew or helmsman. Safety. Sailing like any other sport has a certain degree of danger and precautions should be taken to maintain your safety at all times. Personal Safety You should ensure that you are physically fit, and be able to swim 50 meters in clothing. Ensure that you have the following: Correct clothing Protection from wind-chill (jumper, spray jacket) Protection from the sun (suncream, hat, clothing) Footwear (non-slip) Buoyancy vest Always check the weather forecast before heading out and advise someone of your whereabouts and expected time of return. Boat Safety Always check you boat before departing. Buoyancy tanks are empty Bung or Cork is screwed in Venturi is closed
Stays are secure All sails, sheets and connections are in good condition You have a paddle for rowing and rope for towing Be able to lower your sails in the water Sailing Area Only sail in the designated sailing area. Be aware of potential danger areas such as rocks, reefs, shallows and lee shores. Attracting Attention Slowly and repeatedly raise and lower your outstretched arms. Rowing and Paddling Step into the middle of the boat ensuring that you maintain balance when boarding and disembarking. Paddling on one side will cause the boat to turn on that point. Use the tiller to steer the boat or alternate the sides on which you paddle. Be aware of the effects of wind and current. Wind Direction The key to sailing is to always know what direction the wind is coming from. You should develop skills in ascertaining where the wind is coming from. Some signs include: Direction moored boats are lying. Direction trees are being blown Direction of waves Flags Other sailing boats Gusts on the water Wind on your face
Parts of the Boat.
Rigging. You should, ensure your boat is properly rigged. Layout all parts (not in the sand) to identify them. Place the boat head to wind Step the mast Fit sails, battens and sheets Fit rudder and centreboard Hoist sails (head to wind) Double check that all fittings are correct before launching the boat. Boat Handling. Remember that boats belong in the water and that most damage occurs on the land. Boats are fragile. Handle with care. Don t drag or drop When handling use cradles or hold from the chainplates Avoid power lines Protect your back by lifting correctly Keep, the boat clean of sand and salt Leaving and Returning to Shore. Leaving the beach Place the boat at the edge of the water in such a position that once it is moving it can quickly sail onto a reach. The crew should hold the rigged boat head to wind in the water with one hand on the windward shroud and the other holding the forward gunwhale. The helmsman carefully gets into the boat and sets the rudder, tiller and centreboard, putting as much of the blade down as possible. He then positions himself with one hand on the tiller and the other with the mainsheet ready to sheet it in.
The crew pushes the boat away from the beach and gets into the boat. As soon as he gets in he pushes the centreboard all the way down and sheets in the jib. The helmsman lowers the rudder blade fully and steers the dinghy carefully to avoid any moored boats. Returning to the beach You must keep in mind that you must approach the beach as slowly as possible, and at the same time remain in total control. Come onto a reach towards the beach. To slow down ease the main or jib. The crew should raise the centreboard as you approach shallow water. The helmsman adjusts the mainsheet to control the speed of the dinghy. About 10 meters from the shore the helmsman undoes the line holding the rudder down and heads up into the wind allowing the boat to drift onto the beach. Release all sheets to allow the sails to flap, and pull the boat onto the shore. Points of Sailing. The main points of sailing are: Running - with the wind directly behind you. Reaching - with the wind coming from the side. Beating - with the wind coming from ahead of you.
Starboard and Port Tack If the wind is coming from the port side (Mainsail on the starboard side) then you are on a Port Tack. If the wind is coming from the starboard side (Mainsail on the port side) then you are on a Starboard Tack.
Luffing Up and Bearing Away When we turn the boat into the wind this is called Luffing Up. When we turn away from the wind (wind moves towards the back of the boat) this is called Bearing Away. Capsize. Capsizing is part of sailing dinghies and you should learn the correct way to right the boat. Remember never leave the boat, as it is easier for someone to see the boat than a swimmer. Capsize drill Check that all crew are present and safe Crew swims to bow of the boat and turns it into the wind Helmsman swims to centreboard and either pulls down on it or stands on it to right the boat. Helmsman gets into boat either over the windward side (from centreboard) or over the stern. (Sometimes both the helmsman and crew need to stand on the centreboard.) Crew gets into boat either over the windward side or the stern. As soon as everyone is on board bail out the water. Once enough water has been removed open the venturi (self-bailers) and sail on a reach (wind to the side) course. When water has emptied from boat close venturi. Towing In emergency situations, or in heavy or light weather you may need to receive a tow. The towline should come from the middle of the boat towing you. The towline must go through the ring at the bow of your boat and then a single turn around the mast. You must not tie the loose end of the line but hold it to maintain tension on the mast. If you get into trouble immediately release the line. Steer in the direction of the tow.
Boat Control The usual ways of controlling the boat: The tiller The sheets controlling the sails Adjusting the tiller causes the boat to change direction. You should then adjust the sails (sheets) to match the new course. Remember that the boat will turn in the opposite direction to that which you move the tiller. Once on your new course with the sails adjusted properly the tiller should be in the middle position again. Setting Sails When sailing upwind (beating) the sails should be pulled in tightly. When sailing downwind (running) the sails should be let out. The art of sailing is to know how much to pull in or let out the sheet that controls the sail. The diagram points of sailing gives you some idea. In general it is best to let out the sails until the just start to flap and then pull them in a fraction. On most sails small pieces of wool are placed at strategic places up the sail on both sides. When the sails are set correctly these should flow together level with the boat. The combination of Mainsail and Jib makes the boat go in a straight direction. The Foresail or Jib has a tendency to push the boat away from the wind giving it Lee Helm whereas the Mainsail tends to pull the boat up into the wind giving it Weather Helm.
Balance and Trim When sailing the boat should be level as possible. Balance is how level the boat is from side, trim from the front to the back. Balance This is the sideways level of the boat. Generally the crew and helmsman will sit on the windward side of the boat (opposite to the sails) to help keep the boat level. The stronger the wind, the further out the crew s weight should be. In light winds it is sometimes better for the boat to heel over slightly away from the wind. To achieve this the crew would move more to the centre of the boat. Trim This is the relative fore and aft position of the boat, and is very important to obtain maximum speed. If there is too much weight in the stern of the boat this will cause excessive drag slowing the boat down. If the crew is too far forward the rudder will come out of the water and will be difficult to steer. The bow will also tend to bury itself into the water again slowing the boat down. Beating, Running, Reaching and Heaving To. These relate to the points of sailing and you should familiarise yourself with these.
Beating to windward (Tacking) A sailing boat cannot sail directly into the wind. For most boats the best that they can do is about 45 degrees either side of head to wind. To sail into the wind they must tack or zigzag going as close as they can on one side then the other. If you sail too close to the wind you are said to be pinching, and the sails will start to luff (flap).
Running (before the wind) When sailing before the wind all sails should be let out as much as possible to catch the wind.
Reaching With the wind coming from the side. This point of sailing gives you the most control over the boat.
Heaving To To stop the boat the easiest way is to go head to wind. However in this position you have no control over the boat you are said to be in irons. To stop the boat and maintain control the best way is to heave to. Put the boat onto a reach and slow the boat down by easing the sails (sheets). When you are at the position you wish to be let the sails fly that is flapping in the wind. To start moving again, simply pull in the sheets. Tacking and Gybing. When you change you position by moving through the direction of the wind you are either tacking or gybing. Tacking is a more controlled way of changing direction. When you gybe the wind catches the sails and pulls them very quickly from one side of the boat to the other. Great care needs to be exercised when Gybing with the helmsman pulling the mainsheet on to prevent the boom from crashing across to the other side of the boat.
Tacking Tacking or Going About is putting the bow of the boat through the eye of the wind, by pushing the tiller to leeward.
Gybing Gybing (Jibing) is putting the stern through the eye of the wind by pulling the tiller to windward.
Rules of the Road. In general power must give way to sail however this does not apply to ferries, nor to vessels restricted by their draught e.g. large ships in channels. International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (I.R.P.C.S.) These are a set of rules to cover the behaviour of boats at sea. Some of these rules relating to pleasure craft are: A boat under sail on port tack must give way to one of starboard tack. If two boats are on the same tack the windward boat must give way. An overtaking vessel must keep clear. If two boats under power are on a collision course they must keep to the right of each other. Note: Special rules in addition to these also apply for boats racing. Weather, Tides and Navigation Marks Weather Wind, tides and Currents interact to effect the way the boat behaves. Listen to weather forecasts. Always keep an eye on the weather as it can change suddenly. Watch out for changes in conditions (wind building up etc.) Know the tides. Tides Tides and Currents are usually strongest in the centre of channels. To avoid tides and currents tack along the edge of the channel. Tides increase and decrease at six hourly intervals i.e. low tide follows high and vice versa by six hours. The maximum strength of the tide (flooding - coming in or ebbing - going out) occurs half way between the high and low tide (i.e. 3 hours before or after the peak).
Navigation Marks Isolated Danger - Keep away these are marked black-red-black with two black balls on top. (Manly Wharf, Sow and Pigs) Lateral marks - These mark channels. Red is the PORT mark as you enter a channel from sea and Green for STARBOARD. Cardinal marks - These are yellow and black and signify the side on which you should stay e.g. You should keep North of a North Cardinal mark. (Dobroyd / Gowlands Bombora) North two black arrows pointing upwards. Black Yellow South two black arrows pointing downwards. Yellow Black East black arrows base to base. Black- Yellow-Black West black arrows point to point. Yellow Black Yellow. Glossary. ABEAM At right angles to the centreline of the boat. AFT See ABAFT. ALOFT Overhead. AMIDSHIPS In the middle of the boat APPARENT WIND The combination of true wind and boat speed. ASTERN At the back of the boat BACKING A sail filling from the wrong side BACKSTAY The wire supporting the Mast from the stern BATTEN Plastic strip put in sail to give it shape. BEAM The width of a boat at its widest point. BEAR AWAY To alter course away from the wind. BEATING To sail to windward close hauled. BLOCK A nautical term for a pulley. BOLT ROPE A reinforcing rope along the edge of a sail. BOOM A spar which is used to extend the foot of a (main) sail. BOOM-VANG A rope to pull the boom down. BOW The front of the boat. BROACH To swing broadside to the wind when running. CENTREBOARD Moveable fin keel. CHAINPLATES Steel plates on the deck to support the rigging.
CLEAT A device used to hold fast lines and sheets. CLEW The lower aft portion of a sail. EASE To let out a sheet or line gradually. FAIRLEAD A device to pull a rope in a specific direction. FOOT The lower edge of a sail. FORE Towards the front of the boat. FOREDECK The deck forward of the mast. FOREPEAK A space in the bow of a vessel. FORESAIL A sail set fore of the mast (Jib). FORESTAY A stay leading from the masthead to the bow. GENOA A large foresail (jib) extending aft of the mast. GO ABOUT To turn the boat head to wind onto the other tack. GOOSENECK A universal joint attaching the boom the mast. GOOSEWINGED Sailing with the Mainsail and Jib on different sides. GYBE Changing tack by passing the stern through the wind. HALYARD Any rope or wire that hoists a sail. HANKS Clips by which sails are attached to the forestay. HARDEN UP To aler course towards the wind. HEAD The top corner of a sail. HEADSAIL A sail set forward of the main mast (Jib). HEAVE-TO Holding the boat stationary with the sails flapping. HEELING Laying over due to the pressure of the wind on the sails HELM The steering apparatus (Tiller). IN IRONS Stopped head to wind. JIB Foremost sail. KEEL Then fixed underwater part of the boat. LEE The side furthest away from the wind. LEECH The aftmost edge of the sail. LEEWAY Sideways drift of the boat. LET FLY To let a sheet go spilling the wind from the sail. LET GO To let a sheet or line run free. LUFF The leading or front edge of a sail. LUFFING Point a boat up to the wind. MAINSAIL The MAIN large sail. MAINSHEET The rope that controls the Mainsail. MAST A vertical pole that supports the sails. OUTHAUL A rope that hauls out something e.g. mainsail outhaul. PAINTER A rope attached to the bow of a boat to make fast. PINCH To sail too close to the wind. POINT HIGH To sail very close to the wind.
PORT Left side of the boat facing the bow. PORT TACK Sailing with the sails set on the Starboard side. QUARTER A position midway between abeam and astern. REACH To sail with the wind approximately abeam. READY ABOUT Warning given by the helmsman before tacking. SECURE To tie down or make fast. SET Direction of the tidal current. SHACKLE A D shaped ring with a bolt. SHEAVE The pulley wheel in a block. SHEET A rope attached to the clew of a sail. SHROUDS Wire ropes that support the Mast from the side. SPINNAKER A large three corned sail used when running. SPREADERS The cross spars found about ¾ the way up the mast. SQUALL A gust of wind. STANDING RIGGING The shrouds and stays that support the mast. STARBOARD The right side of the Boat facing the bow. STAYS Forestay and Backstay. STEP A recess into which the foot of the mast can be placed. STERN The aft or back section of the boat. TACK The forward corner of a sail TACKING Turning through the wind. TELLTALE A piece of wool to tell the direction of the wind. TILLER An attachment to control the rudder. TRANSOM The aft part of the boat square to the centreline. TRAPEZE A support to enable crew to lean out from the boat. TRAVELLER A slide that travels on a track to alter sheet angles. TRUE WIND The effect of the WIND on a stationary object. VENTURI A device to allow water to drain from a moving boat. WARP A rope used to secure or move a boat. WEATHER HELM The tendency of a boat to turn into the wind. WHIPPING A method for binding the ends of a rope to stop fraying WINDWARD The direction from which the wind is blowing.