Tacking

When on a reach I have always tacked (pushing tiller away) into a beat or another reach.
I have just found out that you can tack (pulling the tiller towards you) into a run.
Are the two methods ok to do?
Is there anything to watch out/do when tacking into a run.
 
I think you are confused.
'Tack' means to make the front of the boat go from one side of the wind, through head to wind, to the other side of the wind. This can be done reach to reach(wind coming over the side of the boat) or beat to beat(boat sailing as close to the wind as possible)
 
Thank you for unconfusing me.
Please unconfuse me further.

What is the terms used then from: a)changing from a reach to a beat b) changing from a reach to a run. I do know that on a run the centreboard is up and the boom is out as far as possible. My question is that on a reach (centreboard is halfway up and sail is roughly in line with burgee) when and in what sequence do you change the setup as you change from a reach to a run....
 
you're said to head up when going froma run to a reach or from a reach to a beat. you're said to bear away when going from a beat to a reach or from a reach to a run.
 
I would suggest getting a book about dinghy sailing that explains the basics.
Sailing terminology can be confusing if you are not familiar with it, and you would get so much more out of forums like this if you knew what we were on about!!
There are also plenty of websites that explain the terms used.
 
To 4.7Sailor : Thank you...............


To Nicko : Just loosen up and chill, dude.....................

I did plenty of loosening up and chilling in the 90's, infact until I had almost fallen apart and frozen!!!
Seems like you are a little sensitive - all I was trying to point out is that you would benefit greatly from learning the basic language if your aim is to increase your knowledge about laser sailing, just some friendly advice. Sorry if I sound up tight and hot headed!!

Nicko
 
To Nicko:

You sounded a bit pompous to me. So I apologize for being a bit too sensitive
So the good that has come from this little discussion is that I have been corrected about some of the terminolgy/terms/concepts and as a result our little Saturday beginners group have benefitted as well.
 
Just sharing one of my more embarrassing moments...

:confused: The 'tack' terminology is very confusing and is needed when hailing for room from another boat as a right-of-way boat or needed when you must give room.

For example, I thought it was appropriate to hail 'starboard' when you were approaching another boats starboard side of their boat (later I realized this is only applicable when sailing upwind and your on a starboard tack).

My incorrect thinking:
Your heading upwind on port tack approaching another boat heading downwind and ... you would be to the other boat's starboard; and, I would hail 'starboard'.... doh! :eek:

Corrected thinking:
Scenario 1) The other boat is heading downwind on a starboard tack (with wind coming over their starboard side) and your heading upwind on port tack (with wind coming over your port side)... you could be to the other boat's starboard... and you must give room.

Scenario 2) The other boat is heading downwind on a port tack (with wind coming over their port side) and your heading upwind on port tack (with wind coming over your port side)... you could be to the other boat's starboard... and they must give room.

So, a boat can tack and gybe (jibe) which is the actual turning of the boat to cause the wind direction onto the other side of boat; and, a boat going upwind or downwind can be on a port or starboard tack. :rolleyes:

Funny thing about picking up a book... you always learn more than you were researching. Sail la vie ! ;)
 

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