How to trim a sail and use tell tales (part 1 of series)

How to sail, how to set a sail - sail setting on a dinghy, yacht or sailboat.
This video explains how to trim a sail, how to use tell-tales, and how aiflow across the sail works to generate power.
We will look at:
*How a sail works, with different types of airflow to generate power
*Tell-tales, how to use them on a sail and what they are showing us
*How to use a jib, and how it works in conjunction with the mainsail
*Turning forces created by the power in the sails.
This video is part of a 5-part series about the 5 essentials of sailing. These are the 5 key adjustments that we can adjust to make our boat sail efficiently. This 5-part series follows on from one of my earlier videos about how a sailing boat works - I’d suggest that you watch this first if you’re not already familiar with basic aerodynamic theory and/or the points of sail.
How a sailing boat works, including sail theory and points of sail: • Learn to sail, how a s...
5 essentials series:
Sail Setting (Part 1/5): • Video
Boat Balance (Part 2/5): • How to use boat balanc...
Boat Trim (Part 3/5): • Adjust your Boat Trim ...
Board, centreboard or daggerboard (Part 4/5): • How to adjust a Centre...
Course Made Good (Part 5/5): • How to sail better fro...
Subscribe and turn on notifications to be kept up to date: youtube.com/@philswatersports...
Following the launch of this series, I’m working on other videos to help to support people to progress with their sailing.
These videos are to help to support the background knowledge to understand what’s happening in a boat. You should learn to sail on a suitable course, led by qualified instructors with appropriate teaching ratios and safety cover. Don’t just buy a boat and try to learn to sail from online videos, as you could end up in a lot of trouble very quickly.
Find the governing body for sailing in your own country to locate a suitable reputable course. In the UK the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the governing body, and also has recognised centres around the word.
See my Facebook page: / philswatersports
#sailing
#dinghy
#learntosail
#howtosail
#sailfromhome
#beginningsailing
#boating
#sailboat
#sailingbasics
#sailing101
#5essentials

[@philswatersports]

Did your learn to sail course explain how to use tell-tales?

[@smkunder1]

Wow, good stuff, I am 69, took a sailing course where I got completely lost with all the terms and do’s and don’t’s . This has already taught me in a much more understandable way.

[@philswatersports]

Sometimes all the terminology makes it far more complicated than it needs to be! Thanks for your comment, I'm glad it's been helpful

[@stevec-b6214]

this is the clearest and easiest to understand explanation I have seen, thanks!

[@philswatersports]

Thanks Steve C-B, I appreciate the feedback! It looks like you've seen some of the other sailing help videos too, good luck with it!

[@bando404]

Fantastic stuff! The passed 3 years I’ve taught myself how to sail, all just by feel and never quite sure if what I find working is “correct”. It’s great to get the explanation and mechanics behind it all. Watching your videos makes me want to go out and practice even more.

[@philswatersports]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad you've found them helpful, that's what I'm hoping for with these videos. Also glad to have inspired you to keep at it!

[@bikeroadrider]

Perfect video. Thank you!

[@philswatersports]

Glad you enjoyed it!
You might like my other videos about sailing skills on this playlist:
th-cam.com/play/PL2VtZj-uQwyjfdNsbYbWWjKeJjnYGiUEW.html

[@zenbuilder8801]

Phil, well put. I started sailing on a sailfish when I was 10 or so in "62". Sailed many boats since then. Everything from the fish to Hinkleys. This is a wonderful series. At 72. looking to get another "fish" or Laser, after not sailing for 40 or so years. This is a great refresher , Thank you. jeff

[@philswatersports]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your comments, I'm glad it's been useful for you.
I hope you enjoy getting back into sailing. I've got plenty of ideas for more videos to help people, and I might do a few focusing on the Laser as well as one of the most popular dinghies. Always good to hear people's thoughts, as well as any ideas for what kind of content people would like to see in the future?
Best wishes
Phil

[@ferfernando950]

About time someone made a simple and yet thorough video explaining how to set sails in a sv!! I take my hat off before you sir!
You have now a new suscriptor.

[@philswatersports]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Have you seen my other videos? If you liked this, you might like my sailing skills playlist on my channel home page 🙂

[@garymclaughlin4457]

Fabulous content. Appreciated.

[@philswatersports]

Thanks! Happy sailing 🙂

[@hosoiarchives4858]

What an amazing video. Best one I’ve ever seen on how this works

[@philswatersports]

Thanks, and I'm glad you found it useful. You might like some of the other videos I've made to help with the understanding of how a boat works, points of sail and the 5 essentials: th-cam.com/play/PL2VtZj-uQwyjfdNsbYbWWjKeJjnYGiUEW.html

[@stevec-b6214]

I have and will continue to rewatch this video as I have a very short attent

[@philswatersports]

🤣🤣

[@stevec-b6214]

Is a burgee also needed? - I mainly just cruise, but still want the boat to sail well

[@philswatersports]

A burgee is a great idea, as they show the apparent wind direction. They can be a good starting point for the general sail setting, but they won't show as much detail as the telltales do. By this, I mean that you can set the angle of the sail fairly well based on the burgee, but the telltales are more sensitive to react to the air flowing around the sail itself. A burgee is particularly useful in light winds when you might be struggling to work out where the wind is, or to get the airflow to attach to the sail.
The Hawk MKII is a popular choice for un-stayed boats (Laser/ILCA, Topper etc), as it shows the wind approaching the sail: amzn.to/3J1dCa1
Or a masthead burgee is ideal for doublehanders: amzn.to/49cOfgc
A mast head burgee will also find the wind a bit sooner in light winds, because it's probably a bit stronger a bit higher up; but bear in mind that any rocking of the boat will affect the burgee.
Hope this helps!