Downwind sailing

Question
QUESTION: Hi!

I抎 like to refresh a point related to sailing downwind.
Let抯 say that you are on a broad reach and you have  to zig-zag downwind from one broad reach to another in order to reach your destination :  do you have to flip the sail every time or just change side by going around the mast, as you normally do when  switching from port side tack to starboard tack in an upwind course? I am sure the best way to find it out  is practice, but after a long winter off the water much is forgotten and refreshing the theoretical part is, at least for me, just as important. It can save me time and effort.

Thank you

Franco Vivona

ANSWER: Hey Franco,

Anytime you do a downwind turn, it is called a jibe. And any jibe requires you to flip the sail to get onto the new heading.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the clarification.
I thought that the jibe, with the ensuing sail flip,  is only when you reverse  completely direction the 1st time,  for inst. from  upwind  to downwind. In this case, I did know that once the board points in the opposite ( downwind) direction and I am sailing  on a run , I would have to flip the sail to get it off the run and on a reach. But I thought it was different and that I wouldn't have to flip  when I just steer the board from one broad reach to the other, in a zig-zag fashion,  which   is not a complete reversal of direction, but just an adjustment, since I already am downwind.

So, do I understand correctly that there is always a  jibe( and a flip)involved  EVERY TIME I change direction, however minimally,   and not only after the 1st  180 degr. reversal of the course,from upwind to downwind?

Thank you

Franco

Answer
Hey Franco,

When you say 'zig-zag', to me that means that you are changing direction. If you are working your way downwind and due to the shoreline or some other object approaching, you have to turn and head towards the other side (but still going on a downwind reach), you will have to change directions.

Think about a clock. The wind is coming from 12 o'clock. You are sailing downwind at say 5 o'clock. You now need to change direction to 7 o'clock. This requires either a tack and then bear off wind until you are at 7 o'clock, OR, you can jibe around to the 7 o'clock position (which will require a sail flip) and save time and distance because tacking takes you back upwind for a short time. Now you can change from 5 to 7 without flipping the sail, but, you will be sailing CLEW first. Which is doable and freestylers do it often, but more difficult and strenuous.

Also thinking about a clock vs. direction, with the wind coming from 12 o'clock, and forward direction from 12 to 6 clockwise would be on a starboard tack, and any forward direction from 12 to 6 counterclockwise would be on a port tack. It is the very basics of sailing and has not changed in thousands of years. When ever you change from one side of the clock to the other, it requires you to change sides of the board.

Here is a site that describes the basics of sailing.

http://www.sailingusa.info/sail_trim.htm

Look at the diagram and apply it to the clock analogy above. It describes the point of sail and this pertains to ALL sailing craft. A windsurfer follows all the same rules for harnessing the wind to propel the craft forward.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover