Just curious, in degrees, how close can a sailboat travel into the wind?
Forget about efficiency in getting somewhere. At what point is it just
impossible to move forward?
Dixon

"Dixon" wrote in message
. ..
Just curious, in degrees, how close can a sailboat travel into the wind?
Forget about efficiency in getting somewhere. At what point is it just
impossible to move forward?
Dixon


I understand it's approx. 45 deg off the wind on either tack. So.. that's
90 degrees out of 360 that you can't sail.
Results will differ a bit depending on boat, condition of sails etc.

Don White wrote:
"Dixon" wrote in message
. ..
Just curious, in degrees, how close can a sailboat travel into the wind?
Forget about efficiency in getting somewhere. At what point is it just
impossible to move forward?
Dixon


I understand it's approx. 45 deg off the wind on either tack. So.. that's
90 degrees out of 360 that you can't sail.
Results will differ a bit depending on boat, condition of sails etc.



Dixon,
Beating into the wind is called close haul sailing, and as Don said, how
close you can sail into the wind depends up your boat and sails, but it
is common for racing boats to sail 30 degrees into the wind. Look at
the telltails on the jib, and keep easing the boat into the wind as you
tighten the jib. When the tale tails and/or sails start to luff that is
as close as you and the boat can sail into the wind.

Join a beer can racing crew to learn how to trim your boat properly for
all points of sail.

On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:57:15 -0400, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:

it
is common for racing boats to sail 30 degrees into the wind.

That is the so called apparent wind angle (AWA) as viewed from onboard
the boat while it is moving. The true wind angle (TWA) is rarely less
than 40 degrees even on a fast racing boat. The TWA on a typical
cruising boat will usually be in the range of 45 to 50 degrees. The
difference between AWA and TWA is caused by the boats forward motion.
The most accurate way to estimate TWA without complicated
instrumentation is to sail the boat first on one tack and then the
other. Note the compass heading on each tack, calculate the
difference and divide by two.

For example if you are sailing a close hauled course of 45 degrees on
starboard tack and 135 degrees on port tack, the difference is 90 and
your true wind angle is approximately 45 degrees off the bow. Using
the example above, the AWA would be about 35 degrees in a typical
cruising boat sailing in moderate wind speeds.

Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:57:15 -0400, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:

it
is common for racing boats to sail 30 degrees into the wind.

That is the so called apparent wind angle (AWA) as viewed from onboard
the boat while it is moving. The true wind angle (TWA) is rarely less
than 40 degrees even on a fast racing boat. The TWA on a typical
cruising boat will usually be in the range of 45 to 50 degrees. The
difference between AWA and TWA is caused by the boats forward motion.
The most accurate way to estimate TWA without complicated
instrumentation is to sail the boat first on one tack and then the
other. Note the compass heading on each tack, calculate the
difference and divide by two.

For example if you are sailing a close hauled course of 45 degrees on
starboard tack and 135 degrees on port tack, the difference is 90 and
your true wind angle is approximately 45 degrees off the bow. Using
the example above, the AWA would be about 35 degrees in a typical
cruising boat sailing in moderate wind speeds.


I stand corrected.

On Sep 17, 12:38 pm, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:57:15 -0400, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:

it
is common for racing boats to sail 30 degrees into the wind.

That is the so called apparent wind angle (AWA) as viewed from onboard
the boat while it is moving. The true wind angle (TWA) is rarely less
than 40 degrees even on a fast racing boat. The TWA on a typical
cruising boat will usually be in the range of 45 to 50 degrees. The
difference between AWA and TWA is caused by the boats forward motion.
The most accurate way to estimate TWA without complicated
instrumentation is to sail the boat first on one tack and then the
other. Note the compass heading on each tack, calculate the
difference and divide by two.

For example if you are sailing a close hauled course of 45 degrees on
starboard tack and 135 degrees on port tack, the difference is 90 and
your true wind angle is approximately 45 degrees off the bow. Using
the example above, the AWA would be about 35 degrees in a typical
cruising boat sailing in moderate wind speeds.

I stand corrected.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Maybe corrected, but still gave him the best advice yet, go join a
casual racing club. Most sailors tell me the same thing to learn to
sail "for real"...

Dixon wrote:
Just curious, in degrees, how close can a sailboat travel into the wind?
Forget about efficiency in getting somewhere. At what point is it just
impossible to move forward?
Dixon



"If the ship go before the wind, or as they term it, betwixt two sheets,
then he who conds uses these terms to him at the helm: Starboard,
larboard, the helm amidships... If the ship go by a wind, or a quarter
winds, they say aloof, or keep your loof, or fall not off, wear no more,
keep her to, touch the wind, have a care of the lee-latch. all these do
imply the same in a manner, are to bid him at the helm to keep her near
the wind." —former pirate Sir Henry Mainwaring

Rob

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:33:00 -0400, trainfan1
wrote:

Dixon wrote:
Just curious, in degrees, how close can a sailboat travel into the wind?
Forget about efficiency in getting somewhere. At what point is it just
impossible to move forward?
Dixon



"If the ship go before the wind, or as they term it, betwixt two sheets,
then he who conds uses these terms to him at the helm: Starboard,
larboard, the helm amidships... If the ship go by a wind, or a quarter
winds, they say aloof, or keep your loof, or fall not off, wear no more,
keep her to, touch the wind, have a care of the lee-latch. all these do
imply the same in a manner, are to bid him at the helm to keep her near
the wind." —former pirate Sir Henry Mainwaring

Arrr!