Beat

Definición

Navegar lo más cerca posible del viento, normalmente a 40-45 grados de viento aparente. Requiere virar (zigzaguear) para avanzar a barlovento.

Beat in practice

No boat can sail straight into the wind, so to reach a point upwind you beat: sail close-hauled on one tack, then tack and sail close-hauled on the other, zigzagging towards your destination.

Beating is usually the slowest and wettest point of sail. Because of tacking angles, the distance sailed is often around 1.5 times the straight-line distance to windward.

Common questions

What is 'beating to windward'?

Making progress upwind by a series of tacks. A 'long beat' is a passage where the destination lies upwind for hours.

Should you take short tacks or long tacks?

Long tacks waste less time turning. Short tacks keep you close to the direct line, which helps when the wind may shift or in a narrow channel.

Más términos de Sailing