Question 1

Sailing with the wind on your starboard side, your boom will normally be…

Accepted Answer

Out to port — you are on starboard tack — The tack is named for the windward side: wind over starboard = starboard tack, boom out to port.

Question 2

Which point of sail is closest to the wind a yacht can usefully sail?

Accepted Answer

Close-hauled — Close-hauled, roughly 40–45° off the true wind for most cruisers. Closer than that the sails stall — the no-go zone.

Question 3

With the wind directly across the beam you are on a…

Accepted Answer

Beam reach — Beam reach: wind at ~90° — typically the fastest, most comfortable point of sail.

Question 4

To “bear away” means to…

Accepted Answer

Turn away from the wind — Bearing away turns the bow away from the wind; luffing up turns towards it.

How the boat sails

This lesson is part of a paid course