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Steering the boat takes a little practice before you really feel comfortable. You will quickly learn you must move the tiller the opposite way from the way you would like the bow to go.
The best way to get started is to pick a course that will take you at right angle to the wind direction and pick a target of the far shore to aim at. This would be sailing on a BEAM REACH. Sit on the WINDWARD side of the boat (the side the wind is coming from Ð also the side opposite the sail) so you can see the luff of the sail and also balance the natural tendency of the wind to tip the boat to leeward.Also sit far enough forward in the boat so the tiller will pass by your body as you move the tiller from side to side. boat drawing

A good spot to sit is on the THWART with both feet in back of this seat. If the wind increases and the boat tips to leeward you can move to sit on the GUNWALE (side). How the boat sits in the water will have a strong effect on how the boat steers, so perhaps we should discuss "Trim of the Boat".


 

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  • Diagrams and Text courtesy of Sailing and the Tech Dinghy
  • Permission granted by: Harold "Hatch" Brown, MIT.
  • Black and white clipart were provided by arttoday.com
  • Created by: Nondini Naqui '02
  • Maintained by: Bonnie Dix
  • Date Created: 7/27/00
  • Last Modified: 8/9/00