Unveiling the Hidden Power of Sail Lift

Imagine holding a sail up like an airplane wing, standing on its side. Weird as it sounds, that’s exactly how it works, sails ‘lift’ the boat forward. When the wind slides along a curved sail, it speeds up on one side and slows down on the other. That difference in pressure doesn’t push you back; it actually pulls you ahead.

• Curved sails act like vertical Airplane wings and create lif.

How Keel Foils Keep a Sailboat Balanced and Fast?

The lift created by the sails is perpendicular to the leeward side of the sail at a point about a third of the way back from the leading edge of the sail, called the luff and the trailing edge of the sail, called the leech. On points of sail where the sails are adjusted out farther, the lift generated is pulling the boat more forward and less to the side, so those points of sail are faster than the point of sail called “close hauled” when the sails are pulled in almost to the center line of the boat. Close hauled is the point of sail used to tack upwind. With the sails close hauled, most boats can sail within 45 degrees of the true wind direction. Of course, with the sails trimmed in so far, the lift created by the sails is pulling the boat mostly sideways and only a little bit forward. The centerboard, daggerboard, or keel greatly decreases the leeway (Leeway is how much the boat goes sideways as it moves forward), but even so, a sailboat will have more leeway when sailing close hauled than on any other point of sail.

There is one point of sail with zero leeway, and that is called sailing on a run, short for running before the wind. When sailing on a run, the wind is coming over the stern (opposite end from the bow of the boat), and you are sailing in exactly the same direction as the wind, so you don’t have any leeway. Boats with centerboards or daggerboards often pull these all the way up since they are not needed when sailing on a run. Sailing on a run is also the only time your sails are not acting as vertical wings. When sailing on a run, you typically let the sails out all the way, and the sails act as obstructions to wind rather than vertical wings.

Back to sailing upwind. You make progress upwind by sailing a zig-zag course upwind. You sail 45 degrees to the wind on the port tack for a while, then tack, aka come about (turn the boat so the bow crosses the eye of the wind, a 45-degree turn, and then continues 45 more degrees = total 90-degree change of direction at which point you are close hauled on the Starboard tack. Then you tack or come about and sail close hauled on the Port tack again.

Port means left, and port tack is when the wind is hitting the port side of the boat. Starboard means right, and Starboard tack means wind hitting the starboard side of the boat first.

Cracking the Code of True Wind Angles

Sailing directly into the wind is impossible, but sailing at an angle of 45 degrees to it is not. This is called “beating” short for beating to windward, and is when you will have your sails close hauled, you we healed (the boat leaning quite a bit to one side or the other), and because you are sailing upwind, the waves will be hitting the bow and spray will be flying into the cockpit, except in light winds. Beating is often the least comfortable point of sail because of being healed over and getting hit with so much spray.

Rick's Small Sailboats LLC believes everyone deserves to experience that satisfaction. Our small sailboats are designed for performance without unnecessary complications, no engines, no electrical systems, just pure sailing. Every boat is sold in ready-to-sail and ready-to-trailer condition, complete with Coast Guard-required equipment. We also provide an included 8-hour sailing lesson on the boat you purchase, a one-year Boat US membership, and ongoing support whenever you need it. If you’re searching for a small sailboat near you that offers affordability, simplicity, and confidence on the water, we are here to help you.