Points of sail, explained
A point of sail is simply your boat's angle to the wind. There are five of them plus a dead zone, and the ASA 101 test will absolutely ask you to name them from a picture.
The no-go zone (in irons)
A sailboat cannot sail straight into the wind. Inside roughly 45° either side of the wind direction the sails just flap (luff) and the boat stalls. Get stuck pointing there with no steerage and you are in irons — back the jib or fall off onto a tack to escape. To make progress upwind you zig-zag across the zone, which is called beating.
Close-hauled
As close to the wind as the boat will sail — about 45° off — with the sheets hauled in tight. The boat heels the most here and the apparent wind feels strongest. If your sails luff while everything is already trimmed hard, you're pinching: bear away a few degrees.
Close reach
Between close-hauled and a beam reach. Sheets eased just a touch. This is also the classic angle for the final approach to a crew-overboard recovery, because you can luff the sails to slow down or trim to power up.
Beam reach
Wind square over the side of the boat, about 90° off the bow. Sails roughly halfway out. For most boats this is the fastest, most comfortable, most forgiving point of sail.
Broad reach
Wind over the quarter — behind you but off to one side. Sails well eased. As you head deeper downwind, stay aware of where the boom is: an unplanned jibe starts here.
Run
Wind dead astern, mainsail eased nearly all the way out. Running feels calm because the apparent wind drops, but steer attentively — one wobble past dead-downwind and the wind catches the back of the main and slams the boom across (an accidental jibe).
Which tack are you on?
Every point of sail except head-to-wind also has a tack, named for the side the wind comes over. Wind over the starboard side = starboard tack, boom out to port. Wind over the port side = port tack, boom out to starboard. This matters for right of way, so examiners love it.
Trim cheat sheet
The universal rule: ease the sail until it luffs, then trim in just until it stops. Rough boom positions:
| Point of sail | Angle off the wind | Mainsail trim |
|---|---|---|
| Close-hauled | ~45° | Hauled in tight |
| Close reach | ~60–75° | Eased slightly |
| Beam reach | ~90° | About halfway out |
| Broad reach | ~120–160° | Well eased |
| Run | ~180° | Nearly all the way out |