Point of sail
Points of sail is the term used to describe a sailing boat's course in relation to the wind direction.
First, there is a distinction between the port tack and the starboard tack. If the wind is coming from anywhere on the port side, the boat is on port tack. Likewise if the wind is coming from the starboard side, the boat is on starboard tack. With the exception of Head To Wind, a boat will be on either port or starboard tack while on any point of sail.
The points of sail are as follows:
Head To Wind
At this point of sail the boat is headed directly into the wind. A boat turns through this point of sail as it performs a tack. The boat is on neither port nor starboard tack. Since a boat cannot sail directly into the wind, if a boat comes head to wind, and loses steerage it is said to be "in irons," and may begin to travel slowly backwards. To recover, the jib (headsail) is backed to one side, and the tiller is moved to the same side. This results in the bow being pushed away from the wind and out of the no-go zone. Sailboats are usually put head to wind when raising or lowering sails. In this case, auxiliary (motorized) sailboats will typically be under power (engine running).
No Go Zone
The boat is pointed too close to the wind for the sails to generate any power (unless they are backed, see above). The sails will be luffing ("flapping") in the breeze and making noise, like a flag.
The size of the no-go zone will differ based on the performance characteristics of the particular sailboat. For example, racing sailboats can usually sail much closer to the wind (i.e., fewer degrees off the wind direction) than cruising yachts. This is known as "pointing higher." Pointing ability is very important for racing sailboats as the real goal in a race is almost always velocity made good (VMG). VMG is the speed at which the boat is approaching the destination (usually a buoy or mark) as opposed to the speed at which the boat is moving through the water (boat speed). These two speeds almost always vary because, during a race, a boat usually cannot sail directly to the next mark. VMG may also refer to the upwind vector of boat speed (this is often the VMG expressed on sailing instruments).
Close Hauled
A boat is sailing close hauled when its sails are trimmed in tightly and it is sailing as close to the wind that it can without entering the No Go Zone. This point of sail lets the boat travel diagonally upwind. This is a precise point of sail. However, the exact angle relative to the wind direction varies from boat to boat. A boat is considered to be "pinching" if the helmsman tries to sail above an efficient close hauled course and the sails begin to luff slightly.
Close Reach
This is any upwind angle between Close Hauled and a Beam Reach.
Beam Reach
This is a course steered at right angles to the wind. This is a precise point of sail.
Broad Reach
The wind is coming from behind the boat at an angle. This represents a range of wind angles between Beam Reach and Running Downwind. The sails are eased out away from the boat as much as possible.
Running Downwind
On this point of sail, the wind is coming from directly behind the boat. Running is the most difficult point of sail to steer because there is often little or no pressure on the tiller to provide feedback to the helmsman, so the boat may easily go off course. This requires concentration and can be dangerous, as the boat is least stable and can jibe accidentally if the lee side of the sail catches the wind. A preventer should be used to avoid this. The mainsail is eased out as far as it will go. The jib will collapse because the mainsail blocks its wind, and must either be lowered and replaced by a spinnaker or set instead on the windward side of the boat, a technique known as "gull wing," "goose wing" or "wing and wing." A genoa gull-wings well, especially if stabilized by a whisker pole, which is similar to, but lighter than a spinnaker pole. In "non-extras" or "no flying sails" class races where spinnakers are not permitted, poled-out genoas are often used when running downwind. They are also used by cruising yachtsmen as they require less trimming effort than a spinnaker.
