Points of Sail Explained

Eight directions your sail trim depends on

The wind comes from one direction; your boat can head in many. The point of sail is the angle between your boat's heading and the wind, and it determines how you trim your sails.

The eight points of sail

1. Head to wind / No-go zone — Bow pointed directly into the wind. Sails luff; the boat doesn't move. The roughly 45° arc on either side of the wind is unsailable.
2. Close-hauled — As close to the wind as the boat will sail. Sails trimmed tight. About 45° off the wind.
3. Close reach — Slightly bearing away from close-hauled. Faster than close-hauled.
4. Beam reach — Wind directly on the beam (the side). Often the fastest and most comfortable point of sail.
5. Broad reach — Wind behind the beam. Sails eased out further. Fast and stable.
6. Run / Dead downwind — Wind directly behind. Sails out as far as they go. Slowest reaching angle.

The eighth "point" is the return through the no-go zone on the other side, and the symmetry continues on the other tack.

Trim by feel

A general rule: ease the sail out until it luffs slightly, then trim back in just enough to stop the luff. That gives you the most power for the current point of sail. If you over-trim, the sail stalls; if you under-trim, it flaps.

Telltales

Small ribbons taped to the front of the jib show airflow. When both telltales stream straight back, the sail is trimmed correctly. When the windward telltale lifts, you're pinching (sailing too close to the wind). When the leeward telltale lifts, you're sailing too far off.

Takeaways

• The no-go zone is the 45° arc on either side of the wind.
• Trim tight upwind, ease wider as you bear away.
• Telltales tell you when trim is right.