Your boat has weather helm when you have to constantly pull the tiller towards you to keep the boat straight on course. Lee helm is when you do the opposite; pushing the tiller towards the sail. Most boats are designed to have a little weather helm. However, too much of it can make sailing difficult in anything other than light breezes. If your boat has a lot of weather helm, it means the CE and the CLR are not in alignment.There is more sail pressure aft of the CLR than forward of it.
To correct the balance, 1. Shift your weight aft (back towards the stern).
2. Pull up the centerboard.
3. If your boat has a jib, ease (let out) the mainsail.
4. Try any combination of these.
Sailing Terms
Amidships- the middle of the boat.
Backwind- the wind flowing off the sail.
Close Hauled- one of the points of sail; sailing as close to the wind as possible.
Dead Astern- straight behind
Find Adventure with Sailing VacationsIf you re looking for an adventurous and safe way to enjoy yourself, consider sailing vacations. With a variety of locations and packages, sailing vacations call to the explorer in everyone.
Sailing vacations are offered in such diverse spots as the Great Lakes, Maine, the Caribbean and India. No matter your inclinations, you should be able to find a location that will call to your soul.
Sailing vacations can be as luxurious or as spartan as you wish. With no sailing experience, you would need a crewed boat. Even with experience, you may want the freedom to just enjoy the breeze as you glide o ..
Flaking- Folding the sail.
Glide Zone- the distance it take a boat to stop after turning head to wind.
Heave To- to head the boat into the wind in order to slow it down or stop it.
Weather- The Sea Breeze As a sailor you should know about local winds. The cause of these winds is difference in temperature; cold air is heavier than warm air. The most popular of these local winds is the sea breeze. Warm air over the land rises...And is replaced by cooler air sinking over the ocean. At night the opposite happens. The land quickly loses its heat at night and oftenfalls to a lower temperature than the water. This results in a light offshore evening wind. On a lake or river, the warm air can rise at the edges to be replaced by the cool air over the water. This can result in a nice breeze for sailing.
Forcast for a Typical Sea Breeze Day: Morning Very Light Winds -No Weather Systems Near -Clear Sky -High Temperatures But Cooler Near the Shore
Afternoon: Wind coming from water starting Midday -Cumulus Clouds over land -Clear over water- Winds Speeds 8 - 12 knots
Evening: Winds Decreasing as sun slips over horizon
Learn about the traditional Chinese sailing shipsThe traditional sailing ships are one of the main prosperity Chinese symbols. Actually, these objects are the most known symbols after dragons in the Chinese culture. Just like dragons, they can be seen in most Chinese buildings and houses as traditional objects as well as prosperity amulets. They not only symbolize prosperity but also are very auspicious for goal achievements and happiness in general, and can help us attracting such benefits into our homes. One of the most usual ways these sailing ships are represented is carrying gold coins and gold ingots. Actually, the tradition says they s ..
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Cullum is from Cape Cod, MA, with a second home in Vermont. She is the author of Learn to Sail! with Multimedia! an Interactive Sailing training CDROM which teaches all aspects of Sailing incliding Knots, Piloting, Rules of the Road, Weather with digital video from Sail Magazine, narration, animation and quizzes. Visit her site at http://learntosail.net Wishing you the best in your sailing endeavors!
