Point of sail: what exactly does it refer to?

aleko.petkov · Joined: 10 Sep 2014 Posts: 9

Does point of sail refer to the board orientation or to the sail orientation? Or is it just a general angle off true wind?

For example, say you start on a "beam reach" (board at 90˚ to the wind, and the sail at 45˚). As the board accelerates, the apparent wind moves forward, so you trim the sail closer and closer, until it is close hauled. Now the board is still on a beam reach, but the sail is on a close haul. So, what is the point of sail in this case - beam reach? close hauled? "blast reach"?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Point of sail is measured from the true/ambient wind to the direction the board is traveling. (i.e., if you're spun out and sliding sideways directly across the ambient wind, you're probably in a beam reach even though you're pointed upwind.)

At least that's what I read at the Holiday Inn last night. Smile

cgoudie1

What Mike said, you're still on a beam reach and your point of sail is still
90˚degrees, until your board deviates its overall direction of travel some where
above or below a beam reach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sail#mediaviewer/File:Points_of_sail.svg

I don't think I've encountered the term "blast reach", but I like the idea
of a broad reach turning into a blast. ;*)

-Craig

gobbdogg · Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 163

The point of sail is to have fun!!!!!

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

Google sailing terminology and you will find many sites with detailed descriptions answering your question.

Point of sail is most commonly described by direction on a 360 degree compass. There are sailing terms as pointed out, that describe the various specific or general directions. Beam reach (90 degrees). Run (180 degrees), etc.

When windsurfers talk about direction, it's usually descriptive rather than points on the compass. And there are lots of additional directional sailing terms used in addition to what was outlined on the posted web site.

whitevan01 · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 607

"blast reach" is a quasi-official term from boat sailing, which loosely means broad reaching in way too much wind. Or, what windsurfers would call "just enough wind"

as the OP alluded to, the sail(s) of windsurfers and high-performance catamarans are pretty much always close-hauled due to the apparent wind moving forward when traveling at speeds above windspeed.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 1:03 pm Post subject:

So something like D in this diagram then ;*)

-Craig

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

RichardMueller · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 85 Location: Phoenix, AZ

"Point Of Sail"... is simple the direction your board/yacht/dinghy is on. It has nothing to do with the trim of sail.

bred2shred · Joined: 02 May 2000 Posts: 989 Location: Jersey Shore