Set Your Sails

In June of 2012, an old but sincere desire of mine was fulfilled. I became the owner and captain of a small sailing vessel. A 13.5′ Sloop to be more precise. This modest vessel is equipped with a 19.5′ mast which when stepped (raised) is secured to the deck with a forestay (a cable that goes from the top front of the mast to the bow plate) and shrouds (cables which go from the top sides of the mast to chainplates on both the starboard and port sides of the vessel). This modest vessel stands more than 20′ tall on the water. She is equipped with two sails, a main sail which provides control and a genoa which is the power house of the vessel. She is also equipped with a rudder and a daggerboard. Every part of the vessel is necessary for sailing so we must not neglect to mention the hull.

This sailing vessel is also equipped with a number of lines. There are no ropes on her. Every line has a name and a very specific purpose. At the front is the bow line which is used in conjunction with the stern line in the rear to secure the vessel when docking. The lines used to control the sails are called sheets. Extending from the clew (back-bottom) of the genoa (fore sail) is the genoa sheet. This sheet is a single line connected to the genoa in its middle. If this sheet were a total of 30′ then it would be connected to the fore sail at the 15′ mark. This allows the fore sail to be drawn to starboard (right) or port (left) whenever needed. This sheet is then secured to either the starboard or port side of the vessel in fairleads. My vessel has three sheets. The main sheet is used to control the main sail. The starboard genoa sheet is used to draw the genoa to the starboard side of the vessel when the wind is hitting the sails from port. The port genoa sheet is used to draw the genoa to the port side of the vessel when the wind is hitting the sails from starboard. The lines used to raise the sails are called halyards. My vessel has two halyards, the main halyard and the Genoa halyard.

Attached to the shrouds are small strips of material called streamers. These are viewed to determine the direction of the wind so that the sails might be adjusted most efficiently. At the clew of the main sail is a small line called the outhaul which secures the back bottom of the main sail to the boom. At the tack of the main sail is a line called the downhaul which secures the front bottom of the main sail to the bottom of the mast. The rudder is used for steering and the dagger board prevents side slide. Without the dagger board this vessel can go only in the direction of the wind. When the dagger board is in place, something very fascinating happens. This wind powered vessel is actually able to go against the wind at an angle of about 45 degrees. Not only can she go against the wind, but this wind powered vessel actually goes faster against the wind at 45 degrees than when sailing with the wind. This at first glance seems counter intuitive. But when the physics of sailing is examined, this has to be. A key factor in this fascinating reality is the wing like shape of the sails. Rather than being employed only for resistance (sailing with the wind), they work in conjunction with the dagger board and rudder below the surface and the wind blowing around the sails (which actually act as vertically positioned wings) above the surface to produce pressure gradients both under water and above the surface.

The sum of these fluid forces produces forward momentum when the various members are adjusted properly, regardless of the direction of the wind. It does not matter in which direction the wind is blowing. If the sails on the vessel are of the proper shape and the sails, dagger board and rudder are set properly in relation to each other, the vessel may find its way to the desired destination. Imagine a clock. If the wind is blowing from 12:00 to 6:00, the vessel may sail in any direction beginning at 2:00 and going clockwise all the way around to 10:00. The vessel may not be able to sail directly against the wind, from 6:00 to 12:00 or between 10:00 and 2:00 (in irons), but her captain may adjust her members so that she may beat against the wind at 45 degrees. If he wants to sail from the 6:00 position to the 12:00 position then he would have to tack (zigzag at 45 degrees to the wind) from 6:00 to 3:00 to 12:00.

The easiest and possibly most dangerous way to sail is with the wind. This is due to the possibility of a jibe (sudden swing of the boom from one side of the vessel to the other side due to a shift in the wind). People have been killed and severely injured by uncontrolled jibes. It is striking that the vessel travels markedly faster while tacking or beating against the wind at a 45 degree angle than while sailing with the wind.

The winds can not be seen, but when the captain looks at the tell tales, he then knows how to adjust the members of his vessel to embark on his journey, making necessary adjustments as the winds shift and change. A seasoned captain does everything in his ability to maintain control of his craft. With the skills gained through experience and various conditions, he charts his course with the determination to carry his goods and passengers to safe harbor.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Oh Lord, teach and help us to trust that you are the Perfect Captain of our salvation.  Help us to know that though we can not predict how the winds of life will blow, you our Captain are able to calm the storms and bring us to safe harbor.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.