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Allabroad Sailing Academy |
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Allabroad Sailing Academy |
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On line theory port or starboard lesson section 1 question 7.
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The Tack.
The term tack is used to describe which side of a sailing vessel the wind is
on and is quite important because it is part of the collision avoidance
regulations. Port and starboard are used to avoid confusion because they are the same no matter which way a crew member is facing. Where as left and right changes. |
Which tack am I on. The tack a yacht is on is decided by the mainsail or to be more exact the boom. If the boom is carried on the starboard side then the wind is deemed to be coming from port there for this yacht would be on port tack. |
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It is usually better to be on starboard tack when running downwind because
it gives an advantage in a close quarters situation. A sailing vessel
on starboard tack would be the stand on vessel in a crossing situation with
a sailing vessel on port tack. A sailing vessel on port tack should give way to a sailing vessel on starboard tack unless except is an overtaking situation. In all situations it is the responsibility of skippers to take avoiding action if necessary. |
In this case the yacht is running down wind with the head sail out on the
starboard side and the main sail and boom out on the port side. Because the
boom is out on the port side it is on starboard tack . The boom is the deciding factor when deciding if a yacht is on port or starboard tack. |
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Yachts should give way to vessels fishing, trawling, restricted in ability
to manoeuvre, not under command, minesweeping, towing, constrained by
draught. In other words everything except a straight forward power driven vessel | This yacht is close reaching on starboard tack with the boom out on the port side. |
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A yacht on port tack should give way to a vessel on starboard tack except
when overtaking in which case the overtaking vessel should keep clear of the
vessel being overtaken. A normal power driven vessel should give way to sail unless being overtaken.
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This yacht is also running but is on port tack because the boom is out on
the starboard side.
When running down wind extra care should be taken. There is a danger of the wind direction or the yachts direction changing slightly allowing an accidental gibe with the risk of head injuries from the boom swinging from one side of the yacht to the other. |
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It is the responsibility of all skippers to look out for the possibility of
a close quarters situation and to take early and substantial avoiding
action. Being the stand on vessel will not absolve a skipper from these
responsibilities. By substantial action a change in course should be sufficient to show the other vessel a different aspect of the yacht or at night a different light. | This yacht is on port tack and is close hauled. the boom is on the starboard side and the wind is coming from the port bow. |
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Copyright Vic Punch & David Punch.