Five essentials
Encyclopedia
Dinghy sailing
Dinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using five essential controls:* the sails* the foils ....
uses to sail the boat as efficiently as possible. The five essentials are:
- Boat balanceBalance (ability)In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. When exercising the ability to balance, one is said to be balancing....
- which side the sailor sits on and how far out to make sure the boat sails level. - CentreboardCentreboardA centreboard or centerboard is a retractable keel which pivots out of a slot in the hull of a sailboat, known as a centreboard trunk or centerboard case...
/DaggerboardDaggerboardA daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, countering the leeward push of the...
- lifting the daggerboard up when sailing downwind and putting it down when sailing upwind. - Course made good (C.M.G.) - taking the most efficient route from one point to another depending on the direction of the wind.
- Sail settingSailA sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
- pulling the sail in when sailing upwind and letting it out when sailing downwind. - Trim - sitting at the front of the boat when sailing upwind and at the back when sailing downwind.
Some of the essentials may have alternative names. For example: Course made good may also be known as 'Course Steered'.
External links
- http://www.theyachtmarket.com/articles/sailing/the_sailing_five_essentials/
- http://www.abc-of-sailing.com/info/sailing-essentials.asp