1. Body Position Affects Boat Balance
The way you distribute your body weight while sailing will affect how smoothly your trip will go, especially on smaller vessels. If your body weight is too far forward, it could cause the bow to nosedive. On the other hand, if your body weight is too far back, you run the risk of creating unnecessary turbulence off the stern which will slow you down. Position your body so that your weight is balanced when you're up or downwind.
2. Sailing Upwind
This is a sailing technique where you sail into the wind. Begin by sheeting in to the wind by steering the nose of the boat into the direction of the wind. The sails will start to luff and you'll need to sheet them in until they're taut. Reduce your heel so that your boat doesn't lean on one side. Start beating or tracking from side to side.
3. The Basics of Tacking
Tacking is a sailing technique where you change the direction of your boat by bringing the bow into the wind and then away from the wind on the opposite tack. When the bow moves away, you need to transfer the sail to the other tack by releasing the windward jib sheet. This causes the sails to fill with wind again. It's important to make sure you have enough speed before tacking. Be sure to trim the head sail when the boat starts to fall off track.
4. Understanding Gybing
This sailing technique allows you to alter the course of the boat by bringing the stern through the eye of the wind and changing its course away from the wind. Always pay attention to the boom with this technique and be ready to bend down. If there's a crew and a helmsman, the helmsman is responsible for steering to a new course and the crew makes sure the sails are correctly trimmed and will adjust the centerboard position.
5. The Crucial Components of Docking
Docking is a sailing technique that's important to lean if you ever want to do the nautical equivalent of parking your boat. It's especially important to learn proper docking techniques is you're sailing larger boats. Factors that will affect docking include boat traffic, size of the boat and wind conditions. For your safety, don't place arms or legs between the dock, its pilings and the boat, and don't use your legs or hands to try to stop the boat from hitting the dock. Know sailing lines and sailing knots before docking. When docking, maintain steerage but approach the dock slowly. If you're docking at an unfamiliar marina, find out about tidal conditions, current and wind from the dock master beforehand.
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