What is Tacking

Tacking is how we turn the boat by steering the bow through the wind.
Remember, the bow is the front of the boat.

When we tack:

• The front of the boat turns through the wind
• The sails switch sides
• The crew and skipper switch sides
• The boat continues moving forward

During the tack, the boom will swing across the boat.
Remember, the boom is the horizontal pole that holds the bottom of the sail.

Because the boom moves quickly, it is important to stay low and keep your head down as you switch sides.

It is also important for both the skipper and crew to keep looking forward toward the bow so they are aware of where the boat is going.

During the turn, the mainsheet is let out slightly to allow the sail to move across smoothly.
Once the tack is complete and the sail fills on the new side, the mainsheet is pulled back in to regain power.

Wind is the engine.
The lines are the gas pedal.
We let the mainsheet out slightly during the turn and pull it back in once we are moving on the new tack.

Tacking allows us to sail towards the wind in a controlled way.