Learn to Sail Short episodes made for beginners by Tim Burnett

In this final episode, we look at the basic rules of sailing. Having consistent rules to follow for all sailors helps prevent accidents. The reason we have rules for sailing is so that the other knows how you will respond, unlike driving, there are no signs or road markings. Sailing rules are pretty similar around the world, however, please check locally.

You should now be familiar with port and starboard tacks on a boat. If the wind is blowing over your port side first then you are on port tack. If is blowing over your starboard side then you are on starboard tack. Port is the left side of the boat and starboard the right.

Rule 1 - Avoid accidents

Rule 2 - Power gives way to sail, but don't be stupid about this

Rule 3 - Port tack boats give way to starboard, if you are on the same tack, i.e. both on port tack or both on starboard tack, then see Rule 4.

Rule 4 - Windward (Upwind) boats must keep clear of Leeward (Downwind) boats

That’s it for this series, I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to say thank you by buying me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/learntosail

If you do buy me a coffee then I will send you some audio guides that you can take on the water to listen on an mp3 player which will make it super easy for you to practice your tacking, gybing and how to get out of the dreaded irons when you are stuck head to wind. These will be recorded soon.

I hope you are enjoying the lessons so far. Thank you to everyone that has brought me a coffee to date, very much appreciated.

In this episode, we talk about Gybing a AftMain Boat. Gybing is where you change direction from one tack to another when heading away / downwind.

Things to remember:


Communicate with your crew, keep them and yourself safe as the boom traveling across can hurt if it hits you. Also, be careful of other boats around you, if you are too close then your boom could hit them. 
When you're sailing downwind, slowing down means sheeting in the main sail, not letting it out. Doing this can save you if you start the 'death roll'. 
When you turn the boat to gybe, then there is nothing wrong with helping the boom over, grab the kicker, and give it a pull. As soon as the boom passes the middle of the boat, get your body on the opposite side and keep the boat flat.
A gybe on an aft main boat is very similar to a tack, you swap your hands before you change direction, you move across the boat looking towards the back.

Practice on shore as much as you can before heading out on the water.

If you enjoy this podcast series then please feel free to visit www.buymeacoffee.com/Learntosail to say thanks.

I hope you are enjoying the lessons so far. Thank you to everyone that has brought me a coffee to date, very much appreciated.

In this episode, we talk about Gybing a Centre Main Boat. Gybing is where you change direction from one tack to another when heading away / downwind. 

Things to remember:


Communicate with your crew, keep them and yourself safe as the boom traveling across can hurt if it hits you. Also, be careful of other boats around you, if you are too close then your boom could hit them.
When you're sailing downwind, slowing down means sheeting in the main sail, not letting it out. Doing this can save you if you start the 'death roll'.
When you turn the boat to gybe, then there is nothing wrong with helping the boom over, grab the kicker, and give it a pull.
As soon as the boom passes the middle of the boat, get your body on the opposite side and keep the boat flat.

A gybe on a centre main boat is very similar to a tack, you move across the boat looking towards the front, you swap your hands then after the boat course is set and you are comfortable.

Practice on shore as much as you can before heading out on the water.

If you enjoy this podcast series then please feel free to visit www.buymeacoffee.com/Learntosail to say thanks.

In this episode, we talk about tacking an aft main boat. In the example, I talk about taking a boat from a starboard tack to a port tack, close-hauled to close-hauled, 11 o'clock - through the wind at 12 o'clock - to 1 o'clock. The basic steps are:

Look behind you, checking for obstacles.

Communicate to your crew (Helm: Ready about. Crew: Ready).

Move the foot at the towards the front of the boat over the strap in the middle to the far side.

Swap the mainsheet from your right hand to your left, at the same time swapping the tiller extension from your left hand to your right.

Push the tiller away from you, this will turn the boat towards the wind.

Duck under the boom to swap sides, looking backward and NOT letting go of the main sheet or tiller.

Seat on the port side as far forward as you can.

Straighten up the boat when you are at the 1 o'clock position.

If you enjoy this podcast series then please feel free to visit www.buymeacoffee.com/Learntosail to say thanks.

In this episode, we talk about tacking a centre main boat. In the example, I talk about taking a boat from a starboard tack to a port tack, close-hauled to close-hauled, 11 o'clock - through the wind at 12 o'clock - to 1 o'clock. The basic steps are:

Look behind you, checking for obstacles.

Communicate to your crew (Helm: Ready about. Crew: Ready).

Move the foot at the back of the boat over the strap in the middle to the far side. 

Push the tiller away from you, this will turn the boat towards the wind.

Duck under the boom to swap sides, looking forward and NOT letting go of the main sheet or tiller.

Seat on the port side as far forward as you can.

Straighten up the boat when you are at the 1 o'clock position.

Now we start the hand swap.

Slide your right hand along the mainsheet to the tiller and with your index and thumb looking like a trigger, grip the tiller extension and the mainsheet. Your right hand will now be holding both the tiller and the main sheet. Your left hand is free now to reach forward and grab the main sheet as it comes out of the block. Your left hand is now in full control of the main sheet. 

You can now release the main sheet from your right hand and flick the tiller extension over your shoulder and return to the normal sailing position.

This video may help if you need it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ina817FglgA

If you enjoy this podcast series then please feel free to visit www.buymeacoffee.com/Learntosail to say thanks.

This is going to be a short episode. In this episode we are just going to quickly look at the difference between centre main and aft main boats. Why is this important? Because how you tack the boat, and the motions that you go through depending on what type of boat you are sailing.

If you already know what type your boat is then just skip to the right episode. If you don’t have a boat but are planning on buying something old and wooden, then the best bet is to pick Aft Main, if you are planning on buying something more modern or intend to learn at a training centre, pick centre main. If you don’t have any idea, pick centre main.