In this video we show you how to tack and gybe.

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The tack is a turn with the bow through the wind.
When gybing, the stern turns through the wind.

The tack is the easier manoeuvre. It is often used to switch between beating courses when zigzagging through the wind.

To tack, the helmsman pushes the tiller slowly to leeward towards the mainsail. The boat luffs – so it starts turning with the bow to the wind.

While the boat is turning with the bow through the wind – if the wind comes exactly from the front – the crew changes sides. The helmsman hands over the tiller to the other hand.

For a quick and smooth tack, it is helpful to keep the foresheet tight on the "old side" until the boat has turned completely through the wind. On a new beating course, the bowman then hauls the headsail tight on the new leeward side.

When tacking, make sure you push the rudder away from you with finesse – if you do this too quickly, the boat will slow down and not turn completely through the wind!

Communication among crew members is important and helpful for coordinated teamwork – especially for beginners.

The command of the helmsman is the most important one: Ready to tack?
Only when the bowman has clearly signalled that he is ready may the helmsman initiate the tack. By shouting Hardalee, the helmsman then signals that he is now moving the rudder.

For the sailing licence you will learn even more detailed commands – but for sportive catamaran sailing, the ones mentioned here are sufficient for most sailors.

Now let's move on to the GYBE

As opposed to the tack, the gybe turns the stern through the wind. So you make a turn away from the wind. Therefore, a gybe is suitable if you want to sail to a destination that is in the wind direction.

Practice the gybe in light winds first, because mistakes can lead to unwanted situations in stronger winds!

To initiate the gybe, the helmsman pulls the rudder to windward – that is, towards the body.
At the same time, the sails are sheeted out – that is, opened.

When the boat has borne away far enough, so that the wind is coming from behind, it is time to get the sails tight.

Only when the sails have been hauled tight may the helmsman manoeuvre the boat through the wind onto the new broad reach course. At this point, the sails change to the other side – this is also called shifting the sails.

It is best for the bowman to change sides already before the sails have shifted – the helmsman changes sides approximately on headwind course.

If the wind is stronger, a small change of direction can quickly turn into an unintentionally tight turn. To avoid this, you should counterhelm briefly right after shifting so that the boat stays on course!

As soon as the boat has turned with the wind, furl the sails again slowly and in a controlled manner.

As with the tack, it helps to reduce communication to the bare minimum even during a gybe:

The most important commands when gybing are:

Ready to gybe?
Furl the sheets!

and before the boat turns through the wind:
Haul home the sheets!

The GRABNER Sailing Academy Team wishes you lots of sailing fun!



0:00 Introduction
0:43 Tack
3:04 Gybe



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