Talk:Tacking (sailing)

Square riggers
In the article it says that square rigged ships are "much worse" at tacking than ships with other forms of sail. This false claim is stated again and again in litterature and on websites about sailing. I assume it is a misconception perpetuated by prejudiced or misinformed people with no experience sailing square rigged ships what so ever. I know this is anecdotal evidence, but as a person who has built and sailed sqare rigged clinker built viking ship replicas for decades, I can tell you that this is simply not true. While sqare riggers are not exactly excellent at tacking, they will go about 45 degrees up-wind, like sailboats with so many other types of sail. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.62.117.244 (talk) 14:09, 27 February 2021 (UTC)

Diagrams
The handwriting in the image 'Jibing intervals.JPG', which is used in the article (I think) incorrectly describes the effects of different intervals between turns when beating upwind. The schematic clearly shows (to me at least) that the length of the intervals between turns does not influence the total distance traveled (except when you consider rounded corners, but the schematic does not show this and the loss of speed in those corners because of sailing against the wind probably cancels that advantage.). I think that the image should be replaced, or if no alternative is found, removed from the article. I'm willing to make a replacement image if necessary, but thought it best to first ask for a second opinion, in case I misinterpreted the schematic.Lindert (talk) 11:16, 29 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I agree - basic vector math shows all of those routes to be the same length, and this is true regardless of the angles of the tacks (as long as all the starboard tacks are the same angle and all the port tacks are the same angle). The diagram indicates to me that if the sailing angles have been chosen to maximize velocity made good, the best option would be to do exactly one starboard tack and one port tack, since speed is non-optimal during tacks and jibes.  Also would favor a more professional-looking diagram (e.g. diagrammed on computer, and spelling errors corrected, etc.) Kjl (talk) 04:34, 4 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Ok, I replaced the image with my own. Any feedback/criticism is welcome.Lindert (talk) 00:10, 18 March 2010 (UTC)

HELLO SAILORS! - Hey, what happened to the other tacking image diagram? "File:Jibing Intervals 2.jpg" doesn't appear to exit anymore but the text is still there in a box... Did someone change the link name, was it deleted, or is the diagram still on wikipedia somewhere under a different name? I thought it was a useful addition. (I mean the computer generated graphic comparing different length tacks, not the earlier hand drawn one about wind shifts.) Either it should be replaced or the box describing it should be removed. It has been this way for many months already! Isn't anybody maintaining this page? Numuse37 (talk) 15:30, 11 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Apparently the image was renamed, it's now fixed. Lindert (talk) 08:22, 12 September 2011 (UTC)

Blind tacking
Could someone please define 'blind tacking'. I think it should go here (nautical terms). I think I know what it means but I'm not sure. 2829  VC 08:37, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

Question re terminology - Tacking versus Coming about
I was always under the impression that the terms are defined thus: -- So in the following (very basic) diagram, each line represents one 'tack' (or reach?) all of them together is a representation of 'tacking,' and each point where the lines would join if I could make them do so, are when you 'come about.'
 * Tacking : changing direction regularly to avoid trying to sail directly into the wind (or similar)
 * Tack : the direction you're going between two 'turns'
 * Coming about : the action of turning from one direction to another.

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Am I wrong? Because the start of the article seems to suggest that 'tacking' and 'coming about' are interchangeable terms.

Mathsgirl (talk) 08:03, 28 February 2016 (UTC)


 * This article distinctly says "When used without a modifier, the term "tacking" is always synonymous with "coming about";". Not implied, stated directly, and more than once, with qualifiers on related terms. I hope that is correct. If not, I hope someone knowledgeable in sailing corrects the article. I moved the first diagram out of the lead and into a newly-named section that was part of the lead. The lead needs to highlight and summarize the article, so a few sentences from other parts of the article were moved to the lead (that is, I did it). I am not aware of an infobox for sailing articles; that is where an opening graphic or photo would go, as it does in an article about a novel, where the cover of the first edition is the top of the infobox. Lacking that feature, the graphics are better in the article itself, I believe. --Prairieplant (talk) 04:20, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

Water plays a trick
Since major part of tacking activities relate to sailboats that reside in water it is worth mentioning that the wind friction on the water induces a surface water speed out of line with the wind direction. Whenever there is wind over water there is a water speed component out of line with the wind. This is called the [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekman_transport Ekman Transport]. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.253.99.195 (talk) 16:57, 12 June 2017 (UTC)