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Archive for the ‘Yachts’ Category

Genoa
The genoa is the sail at the bow of the boat and is controllled, usually, by two sheets that run back to winches in the cockpit area. These winches are generally referred to as primary winches. In a same way as a dinghy is sailed the sail must be set to the correct angle for the wind. The genoa will generally be trying to blow the bow of the boat away from the wind due to the forces acting on it.

Main
The Main sail counteracts the forces of the genoa by providing lift and pushing the bow of the boat towards the wind. As such it is important to get the balance between these two sail correct in order to avoid ‘weather helm’. If necessary one can reef the sails to maximise this balance.

Spinnaker
The spinnaker is the large, usually colourful, sail that is deployed when you are sailing downwind. The spinnaker has various nicknames, such as ‘kite’ and is controlled with three ropes and an additional pole. The pole is basically an extension of the boom, but out the front of the boat. A halyard raises the sail (crew lower it!), and is controlled with a sheet and guy. The pole is attached to the guy rope and it is this that helps provide shape to the sail. When the time comes to gybe then it is necessary to change the pole over from the old guy to what was the sheet, which now becomes the new guy.

Asymetric Spinnakers
In a similar fashion to the conventional spinnaker this is used downwind mainly, though it is possible to sail closer to the wind than with a conventional spinnaker. Controlled using the same system – sheet, guy, halyard – but with an extendable pole the sail provides significant ‘drive’.

Winches
Winches are used to control the various ropes on yachts. They consist of a drum that the rope is ‘coiled’ around, usually with three or four loops. Some winches are ‘self-tailer’, like the one below – this means that there is a part on the winch which holds the ‘tail’ of the rope. The tail is the loose end. The forces on sheets and halyards are significantly higher than on dinghies hence the need for a bit of assistance provided by the winches. In the top of the winch is a hole/slot for the winch handle to go in, often with a locking mechanism to prevent it falling out. Winding on the handle allows the drum to turn and thus pull in the rope that is colied around it. Winches can come in multi-speed, which means they have gearing within them which changes the speed depending on which way you turn the handle – one way for fast, one way for slow. When winching it is advised to get your upper body over the top of the top (so you are hunched over it) and then using both hands, turn the winch handle.