1. Winded by Tacking
Tacking is the most common way to change tack, or position of the mainsail relative to the centerline, of a boat. It requires the helmsman to turn the boat towards the wind (so that the boat's nose, or bow, faces into the wind) and then through the wind. Changing the position of the boat through the wind requires that the sails shift over to the other side of the boat so the boat can continue to sail smoothly.
2. Taking a Wide Berth
Changing the course of your boat as significantly as is required by a tack means you're taking yourself out of your previously clear course and potentially putting yourself in the path of other vessels or putting other vessel in the path of your new course. This means before any tack, you must plot out the approximate new course and check the water around you to see if there are any potential obstacles, from swimmers to boats to buoys. If you have extra crew, put someone on the bow to make sure the coast is clear before you turn the boat.
3. Count and Call
To ready the crew or passengers on board you should inform them that you're planning on tacking. You can give other people on board an approximate amount of time to the tack and count down by saying, "Tacking in," and then counting down to the tack. Just before you tack, call out "Tacking!" or, "Helm to lee!" so that everyone knows what's going on. If there are inexperienced sailors on board, make sure they duck their heads to avoid the swinging boom.
4. Take Control
As you go through the tack, you need to keep an eye on your course and stay in command of your crew. As the foresail (the jib or genoa) starts to fluff, the person controlling that should let its line out of its cleat or clamp. A few moments later, as the foresail starts to switch to the other side of the boat, the person in charge of that sail should pull it in on the new side, or tack. The same is true for the main sail as you complete your tack.
5. Stock Taking and Course Making
After you have completed the tack and find yourself on the "other side" of the wind, you need to first take a look at the water to recheck there aren't any obstacles ahead of you or previously unseen vessels on a collision course with your boat. You then need to make sure that you didn't overtack the boat by turning it past your initially planned course. Finally, you should scan the boat and crew to make sure that all lines are clamped or cleated, the sails are set properly and the crew are all in safe positions on board the boat.
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