How to Tack a Boat (Sailing Virgins) Ep.09

[@patricknagel9065]

Therapeutic sailing classes, love to watch in the mornings as it brings a smile on my face 😄 Well done!

[@DroppinDaMike]

I subbed to your channel. For the past few months I have this overwhelming need to just "break free", and I have been exploring the idea of going through sailing school, acquiring the boat, and then go away. Your videos are so well done, I literally learned more from your 3 videos than I did from last 10 that I saw before your videos. And your videos are more than 2 years old ! If I manage to travel to Caribbean region next year, expect a customer (me), because clearly sailing is not that complicated and you guys are showing me that a little confidence and focus is all one dedicated person needs to learn something. Thank you for your content.

[@returner323617]

Quite a good explanation/demonstration. One thing that was not really explained/emphasised is the that once the Helmsman calls "ready about", the Trimmers actually have to make sure that they and their lines are fully prepared before they respond with "ready"; I've seen beginners panic and feel obliged to instantly respond when they are nowhere near prepared. These commands are, of course, all about quality bi-directional communication. And, personally, I would not place so much emphasis on rushing through the maneuvers, especially when working with beginners/novices; this is the time when it's most likely to make a mistake, and quite possibly cause an injury. If you miss stays, or are slow to haul in the now-working jib sheet there's no harm except to one's pride. Slow is pro, or if you prefer, there's the Sniper's motto: slow is sure, sure is fast.

[@pmstorm]

It is awesome to watch how much fun you two are having as you sail and perform the maneuvers. Very cool!

[@hansschweikert9153]

You guys are so freakin' cool. I love this channel because you guys are fun, unpretentious, and informative. I'm prepping for my first charter, and watching your videos is giving me a great review and picking up a few tips. Thank you. I'm a Charter Virgin, and I'm hoping to change that in the BVI's at the end of this month. Your videos have helped me.

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanks a bunch Hans! The BVI is such a great location to begin with, hope you have fun!

[@vladddtfan]

your guys’ vids are the best and amazing camera work

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanka we appreciate it

[@marcg1043]

Super video guys! I am a beginner but your video has made it so clear…it’s the best tacking explanation I have seen. Thank you!

[@bmaxter]

Super informative! It makes it easy to understand by explaining the concepts and showing them in action.

[@algobo]

This is so helpful to refresh my memory! Amazing. Thanks so much!

[@angiebrown6523]

This was very helpful when completing my Competent Crew in June. It’s great to watch again. Your smiles and rapport set your videos apart from any others out there!

[@uglytruth4467]

thanks for explaing tacking soo well. you guys are awesone teachers

[@Robert-pi6vs]

Good teaching.

[@CG-wr4no]

Wow, excellent tutorial. Great video quality, I like the terminology text and the extra sound effects were cute, ha. Thank you!!

[@jack7358]

Hello mes amis ...superbe vidéo c'est toujours un plaisir de vous regarder.... Très belle leçon...merci pour les novices. Jack from Belgium

[@davidparker60]

You guys are great and I’m sharing your videos with my gf who is learning on my 40ft sailboat. One thing you forgot in this video was handling the traveler for the main. It’s not always in the middle!

[@SailingVirgins]

Yes we would say for intermediates when tacking, just keep it in the middle. This is way easier. Racing is a different story but using the 80/20 rule, just keep it in the middle.

[@yunanakornphanom9079]

Just getting ready to take my first sailing lesson. This vid really help!

[@curiousraven-imagery2077]

Awesome, loving these videos.

[@cournteyrod189]

Great instructional video!

[@dmitri9403]

great lessons, thanks

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanks Dmitri, glad you liked it!

[@OneLeggedDiver]

Y’all are a great watch! Gettin me ready to sail

[@bretstret1691]

Another terrific job

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanks Bret!

[@WallyInAsia]

I wish you guys were teaching me... very cool guys

[@SailingVirgins]

Check out our courses! sailingvirgins.com/sailing/courses

[@ian_griffiths]

Love your vibe!

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanks Ian!

[@angelfan16]

Very educational!!!

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanks Nicholas!

[@donaldbuttery7128]

thx u

[@belgis_chial]

Great!

[@SailingVirgins]

Thanks Belgis!

[@SoundzAlive1]

Great job guys. One thing I noticed a bit confusing for beginners is that nearly every time you mention sheets you point to the winch or put your hand on top of the winch. André

[@jakubharan3964]

Really like your stuff Guys! Thank you very much for the tips. Just one question. Why Lee Ho?? Do you know the history behind this command by any chance?

[@SailingVirgins]

A simple question with a big, often controversial answer Jakub! Here are our comments on calls when taking. There are three things that the helm needs to communicate, so the crew work together: 1) are you ready to tack, 2) I'm turning the boat and 3) we have just crossed the wind. The traditional calls for this are: 1) "ready about", 2) "helm to lee" (or "helms a lee") and 3) "lee....ho!" You can write an essay on this, particularly the third point, but one thing to expand on is this: 3) really points to the pressure coming off the foresail, which is the point that it is no longer "useful" (ie providing power), which is the point at which the working sheet can be released and the lazy sheet put on. The helm says this call like a conductor: to go with that metaphor for a bit, although the violinist may already know the rhythm herself, it's still nice to hear it from a single source, so everyone plays to the same beat. Further, the helm normally has the best view of what the foresail is up to. Now to address your question, in traditional sailing, the second of the three calls is "helm to lee" (or some variant thereof), which alludes to the fact that with a tiller boat, the helm points the tiller to the lee (ie. away from the wind), in order to turn the bow of the boat through the wind. So the helm is simply confirming that the boat is turning, ie. that the tack has started. This is useful information. "Lee.....ho!" is an extension of this, and is in itself a very good call, as the "lee...." part serves as something of a drumroll, where the crew knows the "ho!" call is imminent, and when the "ho!" call finally comes, it makes the whole process very motivating in some strange way. While we all stick to the three-calls rule, most of us at Sailing Virgins have modernised it somewhat, where after getting confirmation that the crew are ready, we will say "turning" or something like that (for the second call), but we generally stick to the "lee..... ho!" call for the third because a) it's motivating, b) it's very clear and c) it's kind of cool to have a nod to tradition in this game, especially when it's practical. Hope that helps!

[@jakubharan3964]

@@SailingVirgins A clear and exhaustive answer as always. I had a feeling that it must have had something to do with traditional boats steered by means of a tiller. Thank you very much Guys. Much appreciated!

[@HighSchoolNotes]

@@SailingVirgins so glad u took the time to explain this. I was thinking "why Lee ho?", because the boat is turning to the windward side (not the lee side?) in a tack. But the term comes from the direction the tiller is pointing... got it. Thanks. Lee Ho is also a great restaurant in Cessnock NSW, fyi.

[@p.a.ch.3861]

How far ( 20 degree ?) should we allow the boat to heel ? To be efficient and fastest speed , would it be without heeling ,? i.e. the hual is flat on water surface ?

[@zacm4740]

So when you are sailing up wind and you make your 1st tack at 30 degrees how far do you sail in that direction before you tack at an other 30 degree angle in the opposite direction?

[@davidncw4613]

VG TY! could you have the two old guys wear different Tees so we can tell them apart plz?

[@adrianhilterman371]

Hey guys...great video's... question on the video editor your using?

[@SailingVirgins]

Hey Adrian, we use Final Cut Pro for this, but Premier Pro for other episodes. Depends who's driving...

[@scarletbegonias2359]

yeah

[@denis-ww5dt]

LEEEEE HOOOOO

[@SailingVirgins]

That's it!

[@dassemultor6940]

I'm here... but I don't even own a boat. :))

[@Jorge-yy3dd]

too many words