What actually happens when a boat sails?

You've seen sailboats. You've probably wondered how they actually work. This explains it, in plain English, on 17 pages of diagrams. No experience needed, and no plan to sail required.

ALTAIR Understand Sailing How sailing actually works, explained simply. FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER LOOKED AT A SAILBOAT AND WONDERED: HOW DOES THAT ACTUALLY WORK?
Buy Understand Sailing, €9.99

Instant PDF download. Reads well on a phone.

A taste of it

Move the boat. Watch what the sail does.

The wind always comes from the top. Drag the slider to turn the boat. This is one idea from Understand Sailing.

WIND
Beam reach
About 90° to the wind
Sail
About halfway out
Feels
Steady, fast and forgiving. The easiest place to start.

What it explains

The questions you've always had

Each one gets a diagram first and a few plain sentences second.

WINDSail forceFin resistssideways slipForward

How can a sail pull a boat forward?

It works like an airplane wing. The surprise is what happens underneath the boat.

WINDTackGoal, upwindStraight lineis blocked bythe windStart

Why do sailboats zigzag?

Because the one place you want to go is often the one direction a boat can't sail.

WINDWind pushesKeel pulls back

Why doesn't it tip over?

The wind pushes the sail sideways, high up. Here's what pulls the boat back.

WINDTop markUpwindzigzagDownwindStart

How do you watch a race?

It looks like boats drifting around. It's actually a chess match.

See all 13 chapters
  1. A sail is a wingThe one idea that explains everything
  2. The wind's compassPoints of sail, on one diagram
  3. Why boats zigzagTacking, gybing and the no-go zone
  4. Why a boat leans but doesn't tip overKeels, crew weight and two hulls
  5. Meet the boatThe parts and words you will hear
  6. How sailors read the windWhat they look at, and what is too much
  7. What the crew is doingSteering, trim, and reading a boat from the shore
  8. How boats avoid crashingRight of way, in simple form
  9. Boats come in many kindsFrom small dinghies to flying catamarans
  10. How to watch a sailing raceThe course, the start and who is really winning
  11. Myths about sailingWhat most people get wrong
  12. Glossary40 terms, A to Z
  13. If you get curiousOne page on how to try it, plus a printable cheat sheet

What you get

One PDF. Everything in it.

  • 17 pages, built around 7 diagrams
  • 13 short chapters, in the order that makes sense
  • A 40-word glossary of what sailors actually say
  • A one-page cheat sheet you can print
€9.99one-time

Instant PDF download. Reads well on a phone, a tablet or paper.

Buy Understand Sailing

Is it for you?

Made for the curious

It is, if you

  • have ever looked at a sailboat and wondered: how does that actually work?
  • follow sailing on TV, or want to start
  • might want to try sailing one day and would like to understand it first

It is not, if you

  • already sail and want advanced tactics
  • want a course or a licence. This explains how sailing works, it is not a qualification

Questions

Before you buy

Do I need to want to sail?

No. It is written for the curious. The last chapter covers how to try it, in case you get curious along the way.

Do I need any sailing experience?

None. It starts from the very first idea and explains every word it uses.

Is this a sailing course?

No. It explains how sailing works so that you understand what you see. It is not a qualification, and it does not replace lessons with a qualified instructor.

Can I read it on my phone?

Yes. It is a standard PDF, laid out to be readable on a phone, tablet or printed page.

What language is it in?

English.

Next time a sailboat goes past, you'll know how it works.

Buy Understand Sailing, €9.99

17 pages. Plain English. Diagrams first.