If the wind is blowing south, and you want to go north, how do u do it?

Question

If the wind is blowing south, and you want to go north, on a boat with a sail and no engine, how do u do it?

i know the sail can twist around 360 degrees and there is a steering wheel, but someone told me that u have to "CATCH'' the wind, how, i asume the sail will just blow inside out, if you know what i mean.

thanks

Answer 1

Depends on how your boat is rigged.  You would use a method called 'tacking'.  Some rigs can get you very close into the wind and still drive you forward.  Other rigs cannot be as 'close hauled' and you need to angle off the wind direction a bit further.  

Don't think of your sail as a 'basket' to catch the wind and push you forward.  Think of it as a wing, like on an aircraft, and you'll have a more accurate picture.  It's lift forces that are at work across the curved surface of the sail.

Here's a reference with better explanation than I can give:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacking

Answer 2

you have to tack

cross the water by zig zagging

Answer 3

What you do is act the wind by 45 dreze angle and work your way into the wind.