Sailing  Tips

Climbing on the  Lift

Small Puffs of Wind Yield Large Gains

When a boat has a properly balanced helm (called "weather helm"), she will naturally head up closer into the wind as it's  strength increases. This behavior is particularly noticeable when a puff of wind hits your Melonseed. It's a safety feature that automatically points you up into the wind, luffing and letting the force of the wind slip by the sail.

Although already very close winded in her  behavior, here's a technique you can use to sail your Melonseed even closer,  quicker and faster to your upwind destination.

As you sense the wind increase, it's power filling the sail and heeling the boat over (this is called "getting a lift),  keep the sheet tight or haul it in even more as you gradually point the boat more upwind. You must be aware of just how far you can turn upwind before you start to luff and stall the boat, but you'll be surprised at your new (temporary) heading. Most puffs of wind only last a few seconds though, after  which the wind will lessen and often shift back. As soon as you feel the wind start to decrease, immediately turn the boat back off the wind a bit or you might stall losing momentum and speed. Done in a smooth "carving" motion both up into and back off the wind, it's a pleasant and efficient maneuver.

In spite of the fact that only a few seconds later you are back on the old heading again, you'll find that you have "side stepped" significantly more upwind. All good racers employ this trick. Doing  this repeatedly on an upwind course will make a huge difference in time to your  destination.