Forgive me but I am new to sailing. Trying to sort things out on my own rather than take formal lessons etc.
If need be I will get instruction but frankly I am a bit hard headed and derive satisfaction from "figuring things out"
If my terminology is wrong forgive me
Anyway:
Went sailing yesterday. Strong wind (for me) 10 MPH with gusts to 15-17. this is per accuweather.
I was sailing upwind close hauled but not quite pinching. I was sailing on a starboard tack (wind coming from right). I wanted to switch to a port tack and on multiple occasions i gave it a try. First I gently used rudder but found myself in irons. After 10 minutes or so of the sail just flapping I was able to get back on starboard tack by rapidly moving the rudder left to right and trying to hold the lower spar(boom?) over to the side.
Next try I attempted by moving rudder quickly instead of slowly, same result. third try I turned to somewhere between a beam reach and close hauled before turning via rudder figuring the momentum from this point of sail would help. Not really.
Finally I was able to get on a port tack by doing what I can only describe because I don't know if it has a proper terminology.
From my starboard tack i turned downwind and sort of made a big loop and came back on a tack on the port side. in other words I headed downwind to eventually go upwind on the opposite tack.
Not a good method in a race.
So what is the secret to tacking?
Lastly, when heading downwind and wind is coming from the left should the boom be on the left side or the right? i imagine either would work and I'm pretty sure I did it both ways but in the confusion and wind I was just trying to keep afloat.
On a good note I did not flip over and had a blast but felt like a fish out of water. No pun intended
Thanks for the help
If need be I will get instruction but frankly I am a bit hard headed and derive satisfaction from "figuring things out"
If my terminology is wrong forgive me
Anyway:
Went sailing yesterday. Strong wind (for me) 10 MPH with gusts to 15-17. this is per accuweather.
I was sailing upwind close hauled but not quite pinching. I was sailing on a starboard tack (wind coming from right). I wanted to switch to a port tack and on multiple occasions i gave it a try. First I gently used rudder but found myself in irons. After 10 minutes or so of the sail just flapping I was able to get back on starboard tack by rapidly moving the rudder left to right and trying to hold the lower spar(boom?) over to the side.
Next try I attempted by moving rudder quickly instead of slowly, same result. third try I turned to somewhere between a beam reach and close hauled before turning via rudder figuring the momentum from this point of sail would help. Not really.
Finally I was able to get on a port tack by doing what I can only describe because I don't know if it has a proper terminology.
From my starboard tack i turned downwind and sort of made a big loop and came back on a tack on the port side. in other words I headed downwind to eventually go upwind on the opposite tack.
Not a good method in a race.
So what is the secret to tacking?
Lastly, when heading downwind and wind is coming from the left should the boom be on the left side or the right? i imagine either would work and I'm pretty sure I did it both ways but in the confusion and wind I was just trying to keep afloat.
On a good note I did not flip over and had a blast but felt like a fish out of water. No pun intended
Thanks for the help