Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

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Part 7: Sailing, Sailing …
Backing the jib is using the jib sail to turn the boat enough to catch the wind, and is the
usual course of experienced sailors for getting under way. It’s done by a crewperson holding
the clew of the jib out to one side of the bow, while the tiller is put over to the opposite
side. The breeze catches the jib and swings the bow in the desired direction.
In close quarters, such as
passing under a drawbridge,
even the most experienced
sailors often use their engines
to assist the sails and maintain
steerage.
(Photo credit: Frank Sargeant)
Trimming the Sails
Now you can tighten up the sheets, the main first. The sail will balloon out but will flutter
at first. Draw in or trim the mainsheet until the fluttering stops and the sail stiffens—
you’re sailing!
Trim the jib similarly to the main with the lee-side sheet and your speed will begin to
increase.
The sails will remain properly trimmed as long as you hold this heading or as long as the
wind remains steady from the same direction. If you turn, the sails will begin to flutter
again and must be adjusted. Your first courses should be beam reaches, basically sailing
across the wind (see Chapter 23).