What is the best type of the sailboat if you sail towards the wind?

Question

I just got myself into sailing and I'm reading about different types of sailboats. lets say that I wanna sail towards east but the wind is coming from the east. then I need to sail in a zig zag way, right? so which sailboats are perfect for this? ketch, cutter, sloop, yawl? is schooner also good for this?

Answer 1

For the most part, it does not matter.  What does matter is the condition of your sails.  The term you are looking for is called "Pointing" or "Pointing Ability".  You also have to remember that there is true wind and apparent wind.  Some boats may point better than others, but unless you want to spend thousands on a pure racing boat that has excellent pointing ability, your better off just to buy a regular boat.

Answer 2

In sailing,  everything is a compromise.   One that gives you lots of room is slower and harder to handle.   One that is fast needs quick reflexes.   One that is big,  needs lots of sail and more than one person running the boat.  

They all can tack into the wind.   Make your choice based upon your other needs and abilities.    If you are really worried about it,  get one with a ........... (gasp...)..........Motor.....

Answer 3

If you set up the exact same boat with a sloop rig/ cutter rig/ketch rig and a schooner rig,   the sloop or maybe the cutter rig will point the best, the maybe is in there if the mast location is in the same location on both of them.

The yawl follows then the ketch and last comes the schooner.

The ability to point to weather is affected by the mast position and how the forces are transferred to the hull.  A deck stepped mast can be moved around slightly to change the boats handling characteristics.  Multiple mast boats spread the forces among the different mast instead of the optimial spot.  They trade off ability to point to weather for system reduncancy and being able to carry many smaller sails while maintaining the same sail area.

Answer 4

Almost anything except a catamaran. They really don't go to windward at all.

Also bear in mind that a sloop has only one mast and two sails (especially if you're going to windward). Cutters have two headsails and a yawl, ketch and schooner have two masts, thus you may have three or four sails to deal with. Trimming two sails is much easier than four!

Answer 5

If you sail directly into the wind you are in Irons and you are more likely to move backwards, as for tacking (zig zaging) all you need for that is a boat, sail, and a tiller. Some boats might be better than others but it doesn't really matter that much.

Answer 6

As a general rule of thumb, the longer the keel the lesser the ability to point.  Full Keel boats make wonder full cruiser but they tend to go with the wind or at least abaft-the-beam, from a 3 o-clock to 9 o-clock direction.  That's why the early explorers had to use the 'Trade Winds'.

The best pointing keel boat is the Fin Keel, like the America's Cup and other offshore racers.  They are short, in relation to hull length, but heavy and relatively deep.  Of these types my preference is the raked mast as found on the old 5/8's or 7/8's head rig.   These boats typically have a short water line, in relation to length over the deck, and high aspect ratio, tall sail with relatively short foot.  

The best design for pointing is the centerboard or dagger-board in that they offer the least resistance.  These are most often found on small boats.

With strong winds I believe a planing hull would point higher  than a displacement hull.

The second influence is tuning of the standing rigging and trim of the sails.  But that's another topic,