What does helm to leeward mean in sailing terms?
"Helm to leeward" is a sailing term that describes the position of the tiller or wheel when the boat is sailing downwind. When the tiller or wheel is to leeward (the downwind side of the boat), the boat will turn downwind. Conversely, when the tiller or wheel is to windward (the upwind side of the boat), the boat will turn upwind.
The position of the tiller or wheel is used to control the angle of the boat's sails to the wind. When sailing downwind, the sails are trimmed to be as full as possible, which means that the tiller or wheel is to leeward. This allows the boat to sail downwind at the greatest possible speed.
When sailing upwind, the sails are trimmed to be as close to the wind as possible, which means that the tiller or wheel is to windward. This allows the boat to sail upwind at the greatest possible angle to the wind.
Related questions:
- What is the opposite of helm to leeward? Helm to windward.
- Why is the tiller or wheel to leeward when sailing downwind? To keep the sails full and allow the boat to sail at the greatest possible speed.
- What is the purpose of trimming the sails? To control the angle of the boat's sails to the wind.
- What is the difference between sailing downwind and sailing upwind? Sailing downwind is sailing with the wind behind the boat, while sailing upwind is sailing against the wind.
- What is the most important thing to consider when sailing? The wind direction.
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