Sailboats 101 — What You Need & How to Sail

1) What You Need (Gear & Spares)

Safety first: Coast-Guard-approved PFDs for all sizes, throwable device, fire extinguisher, sound signal (horn/whistle), first-aid kit, and a working VHF on Ch. 16. Night runs need nav lights.

Boat basics: 2–3 fenders, 3 dock lines (bow/stern/spring), anchor with adequate rode, boat hook, winch handles, spare shackles/snap hooks, tape, multi-tool/knife, headlamp, sunscreen, water.

Sails & lines: Main + jib (or genoa). Optional: downwind sail (spinnaker or gennaker) once you’re comfortable. Carry a preventer line long enough to rig boom-to-bow on runs.

Keep heavy gear low and near the mast; tidy lines prevent trips and tangles.

2) Rig Basics (What Each Line Does)

• Halyards: raise sails (main halyard, jib halyard). Tight halyard = flatter luff for breeze.
• Sheets: trim sails (main sheet, jib sheets). Sheets control power and twist.
• Traveler: moves boom sideways—sets angle to wind without over-sheeting.
• Vang (kicker): pulls boom down—reduces leech twist, key downwind.
• Outhaul & Cunningham: flatten or add draft to the mainsail.
• Backstay (if adjustable): bends mast to flatten main in breeze.

Standing rigging (shrouds/stays) holds the mast up; inspect pins and cotters before sailing.

3) Pre-Sail Brief & Departure

Brief the crew: boom arc (keep low), no hands/feet between boat and dock, where PFDs/first aid are, and who handles which lines. File a simple float plan with a contact.

Engine out, sails up: Hoist in clear water outside the fairway. Set traveler near center and ease main; unroll/hoist the jib on a reach to avoid flogging.

4) Points of Sail (The Wind Map)

The area about 35–45° either side of the wind is the no-go zone (sails luff). From there, power increases as you bear away: close-hauled → close reach → beam reach → broad reach → run. Reaches are the easiest, fastest, and most comfortable for learning.

5) Trim Rules That Just Work

• Trim in until luffing stops, then tiny adjustments. If the inside jib telltale lifts, trim a touch; if the outside flutters, ease a touch.
• Use traveler for angle, use sheet for leech/twist. In gusts, drop traveler first before yanking sheet tighter.
• Heel under ~20°. Too much heel = sideways slide and weather helm. Ease sheets or reef.
• Downwind: Add vang to reduce twist and keep the boom controlled. Consider a preventer on long runs (release before turns).

6) Tacks & Gybes (Step-by-Step)

Tack (turning the bow through the wind): Call “Ready about?”—get a “Ready.” Turn smoothly toward the wind. As the jib luffs, release the old sheet, then trim the new sheet as it fills. Keep the helm straight for a few seconds to build speed, then fine-tune trim.

Gybe (wind crosses the stern): Call “Stand by to gybe.” Bring the boat to a deep reach. Sheet main in slightly to control the boom. Turn gently through dead downwind; as the main swings, ease out on the new side under control. Keep heads clear of the boom and use a preventer on long runs.

7) Reef Early & Heave-To

Reef early: If heel stays over ~20° or steering feels fighty, add a reef now—not later. Head up slightly, ease main, lower halyard to the reef mark, secure tack/clew reef lines, and re-tension.

Heave-to (controlled stop): Tack without releasing the jib so it backs; put the tiller/wheel to windward and ease the main. The boat will drift slowly and calmly—perfect for breaks or heavy weather resets.

8) Right-of-Way & Etiquette

• Starboard over port: boat with wind on starboard tack stands on.
• Leeward over windward on the same tack; overtaking boat keeps clear.
• Power generally gives way to sail, except when you are overtaking or vessels are restricted in ability to maneuver.
• Keep a lookout, obey no-wake zones, and avoid collisions regardless of rights.

9) Anchoring & Returning to Dock

Anchoring: Choose a clear spot with room to swing. Scope: ~5:1 in calm, 7:1 in wind. Lower (don’t throw) the anchor; back down gently to check the set.

Back to the marina: Drop sails outside the fairway. Motor in under control. For the tie-up sequence and crew signal tips, use our Docking Guide.

Next Steps

Take a short ASA/RYA intro or go out with an experienced friend on a calm-wind day. Practice a few loops of: reach → tack → reach → gybe. Add reefing and heave-to so they’re second nature.