Learn To Sail A Schooner No.7

Tacking

SchoonerSail Learning To Sail A Schooner Articles

John, Trinovante’s skipper started writing these articles after some Trinovante Crew asked for more information on the fundamentals of schooner handling. These articles are not imagined theory. John has written about specific situations that have arisen. Having said we tack all the time so this is quite routine.

Seafaring is an ongoing learning process and John cautions against set piece manoeuvers. You need a plan but it needs to be flexible because things don’t always go according to plan.

Sail Training involves learning how to safely handle ropes, tying basic knots and using winches, among other things. The crew need these skills is to be able to carry out manoeuvres under sail or power.

Full in-depth knowledge of exactly what is going on is not essential, so dip into these Learning To Sail articles only if you want to.
nt.

Print Learn To Sail A Schooner No.7

Tacking

Image 1

Trinovante must have sufficient ‘way on’ to be able to tack.

This means it must be moving through the water at the best speed for the conditions and be at the right angle to the wind neither too close nor too far off.

The staysail lizard or backing line (red) is secured.

The crew are in position – No.1 to cast off the staysail lizard, No.2 to cast off the port jib sheet (mauve) No.3 on the helm and No.4 ready to sheet in the jib on the starboard side.

Any topsails will have been been lowered prior to tacking.

‘Stand by to tack’ calls the crew to their positions. ‘Ready about’ means tacking is imminent

Image 2

We will now be choosing the best time to tack, taking into account of sea state, wind shifts and other vessels.

‘Lee oh’ or ‘helm’s alee’ or ‘here we go’ means the helm has been put over and the tack has started. The amount of rudder (how far the wheel is turned) needs to be enough to start a good swing and every one onboard should now be watching the swing of the bows in relation to the wind.

As soon as the bows start to come head to wind the port jib (mauve) sheet is let fly and the sail allowed to blow across as we turn.

The skipper or mate will shout ‘Let fly’. The staysail is now held aback by the lizard (red) and it helps to turn the head of the ship round

Image 3

Care must be taken not to sheet the jib in too soon and end up with it aback on the starboard side. This would force the bows back round to port, Trinovante would miss the tack and we have to start all over again.

As soon as the foresail shows signs of filling the staysail is let fly with a tug on the lizard. The rudder is brought back amidships to check the swing of the bows.

The jib is sheeted in but not too far. It is easy to over sheet the jib which takes all the drive out of the sail and also forces the bows round beyond the required heading. The crew should not need to use the winch handle on the jib if they get the timing right.

The crew work together to have the boat tack smoothly with everyone trimming their respective sails at the right time

More ‘Learn To Sail A Schooner’ Articles

Learn To Sail Article No 1, Sailing Off Anchor Image 2

SchoonerSail Limited

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.1

April 19, 2018

Sail off anchor, wind & tide together.

Learning To Sail A Schooner, Anchoring Under Sail On The Run image 4

SchoonerSail Limited

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.2

April 19, 2018

Anchoring under sail on the run.

Learn To Sail A Schooner, Docking And Undocking Using A Spring image No.3

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.3

April 19, 2018

Dock & undock using springs

SchoonerSail Limited

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4

April 19, 2018

Sailing off a quay, wind ahead.

SchoonerSail Limited

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.5

April 19, 2018

Sailing off a quay, wind aft.

SchoonerSail Limited

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.6

April 19, 2018

Short turning off a quay

SchoonerSail Limited

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.7

April 19, 2018

Tacking a 3 masted schooner.

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.8

April 12, 2018

Sailing into harbour.

The Difference Between A Ketch And A Schooner

December 14, 2015

Enough Sitting On Your Computer Reading About Sailing?

Go Sailing On A Schooner For Real
Voyages In Date Order

SchoonerSail

UK Sailing Weekends

October 31, 2019

Fri 5th to Mon 8th May 2023
3 nights £495
A UK sailing weekend to get out on the water in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

View of waves sailing offshore to Norway.

SchoonerSail

Harwich To Kirkwall, Orkney

October 31, 2021

Sat 13th May to Sat 27th May 2023
14 nights £2160
2 Spaces Only
A voyage to Orkney lasting several days with time to sail and explore ashore on arrival.

SchoonerSail Limited

Sailing In Orkney

October 31, 2021

Fri 2nd June to Fri 9th June 2023
7 Nights £1295
1 space only High summer sailing and exploring in the islands of Orkney

SchoonerSail

Orkney to Shetland & Shetland to Orkney

October 31, 2021

Thurs 15th July to Thurs 22nd July FULL
Or
Mon 24th to Mon 31st July 2023 £1295
7 Nights
A voyage from Shetland to Orkney or Orkney to Shetland Via Fair Isle

Walking ashore on a sailing holiday in Shetland

Sailing In Shetland

November 2, 2021

Wed 28th June to Wed 5th July 2023 £1295
or
Tues 11th July to Tues 18th July 2023 £1295
7 Nights
A sailing holiday in Shetland with time to explore ashore.

The Schooner Trinovante enters Whitby Harbour on a UK Sailing Holiday. Copyright Alan Green.

Kirkwall, Orkney To Whitby

May 1, 2018

Sat 5th Aug To Sat 13th Aug 2023
8 Nights £1350
Sail south along the Scottish coast to Whitby.

View through a port hole of the sea - taken on a UK Sailing Holiday.

SchoonerSail Limited

Whitby To Harwich

May 1, 2018

Sat 19th Aug to Fri 25th Aug 2023
6 Nights £960
Set sail on the old collier route. Offshore and Coastal Sailing

Southen Pier at sunset with rigging blocks in the foreground

SchoonerSail

Ipswich To London

November 3, 2021

Thurs 31st Aug To Mon 4th Sept 2023
4 Nights £720
Sail on the East Coast rivers and up to the centre of London.

The schooner Trinovante sailing off Felixstowe

London to Harwich

July 8, 2022

Fri 8th Sept To Tues 12th Sept 2023
4 Nights FULL
Sail from the centre of London to the historic port of Harwich.