The helm turns the rudder and the rudder turns the boat, but only while water flows past it. Steer with small movements and say what you are about to do, and the crew can trust the deck under their feet.
Which way do I push the tiller to turn the bow to port?
To starboard: a tiller works the opposite way to a wheel, so you move it away from where you want the bow to go. A wheel steers like a car.
A wheel steers like a car: turn it clockwise, to starboard, and the bow goes to starboard. A tiller works the other way: push it to starboard and the bow swings to port. Move a tiller away from where you want the bow to go.
| You want | Wheel | Tiller |
|---|---|---|
| Bow to port | To port, anticlockwise | To starboard |
| Bow to starboard | To starboard, clockwise | To port |
| To bear away | Away from the wind | To windward |
| To luff up | Towards the wind | To leeward |
To bear away is to turn the bow away from the wind; to luff up is to turn it towards the wind. Sitting on the windward side with a tiller, you pull it towards you to bear away and push it away from you to luff up.
Head to wind means the bow points straight into the wind, as when the mainsail is hoisted under engine. You are there when the wind arrow at the masthead points dead ahead.
The compass shows 130° but I should steer 140°. Which way do I turn?
To starboard: compass headings grow clockwise, so you turn to starboard until it reads 140°. To bring the number down, you turn to port.
Compass headings grow clockwise. If the skipper gives you 140° and the compass shows 130°, turn to starboard until it reads 140°. To bring the number down, turn to port.
A compass card swings with every wave and is tiring to stare at. Find something fixed that lies on your course, a headland or a tower, steer for it, and check the compass now and then.
A yacht answers the helm slowly. A beginner waits for the turn, adds more helm, and then swings past the course the other way. Give a small correction as soon as the bow starts to wander, bring the helm back, and wait for her to answer.
Small, early, then wait.
What do the genoa tell-tales tell me when I'm steering close-hauled?
If the windward tell-tale lifts you are too close to the wind, so bear away a little; if the leeward one lifts, luff up a little. Both streaming aft means you are on the wind.
No yacht sails straight into the wind: about 45° either side of it is the no-go zone. Close-hauled, you steer along its edge. To find the edge, head up slowly until the luff, the front edge of the genoa, starts to lift, then bear away a touch until the sail fills.
Tell-tales are the strands of wool on each side of the genoa. Close-hauled with the sheets cleated, they tell the helm what to do.
| Tell-tales | You are | Helm |
|---|---|---|
| Windward one lifts | Too close to the wind | Bear away a little |
| Leeward one lifts | Too far off the wind | Luff up a little |
| Both stream aft | On the wind | Hold her there |
On a run the wind is astern and the boom is right out on one side. If the stern swings through the wind, the boom slams across: an accidental gybe. It happens when the bow turns towards the side the boom is on. When a wave pushes the stern, correct at once and do not let the bow go that way.
What does the helm call before tacking or gybing?
First the warning, "Ready about!" or "Ready to gybe!"; then wait until every crew member answers "Ready!"; then call "Lee-oh!" or "Gybe-oh!" as you turn. No "Ready" from everyone, no turn.
The helm starts every tack and gybe, and the crew must know it is coming: sheets have to be handled, and the boom crosses the cockpit. Each turn has three steps.
| Step | Tack | Gybe |
|---|---|---|
| You warn | "Ready about!" | "Ready to gybe!" |
| Every crew member answers | "Ready!" | "Ready!" |
| You call as you turn | "Lee-oh!" | "Gybe-oh!" |
| Through the wind goes | The bow | The stern |
If one person has not answered, you wait. Someone still putting turns on a winch, or standing in the way of the boom, is not ready, and calling louder does not make them ready.
No "Ready" from everyone, no turn.
Why won't the boat steer when I'm going very slowly in a marina?
The rudder works only when water flows past it. Give a short burst ahead: the propeller throws water straight onto the rudder, and the bow turns before the boat gathers speed.
The rudder works only when water flows past it. Drifting with no way on, you can spin the wheel and nothing happens. So in a marina keep the speed slow, but enough to steer: no faster than you would be happy to hit something at, no slower than the rudder needs.
The propeller sits just ahead of the rudder, so its wash reaches the blade at once.
What should I tell the next person when I hand over the helm?
What they cannot see at a glance: the course, the wind and how the sails are set, and any traffic to watch. Let go of the helm only when they say they have it.
Crew working at the mast or on the foredeck have no hand to spare. Hold a steady course, avoid sudden turns and heel, and warn them before any change.
When someone takes over, tell them what they cannot see at a glance: the course, the wind and how the sails are set, and any traffic to watch. Let go of the helm only when they say they have it.
Questions from this topic, as the app asks them. Open one to see the answer.
You are steering with a tiller from the windward side. The skipper says "Bear away a little". Which way do you move the tiller?
B. Towards you, to windward
Tiller to windward turns the bow to leeward, away from the wind: that is bearing away.
You have just taken the wheel. Which way do you turn?
A. To starboard, about 10°
Headings grow clockwise: to go from 130° to 140°, turn 10° to starboard.
You are steering and see this on the genoa. What do you do with the helm?
C. Bear away a little until both stream
A lifting windward tell-tale means you are too close to the wind: bear away.
You call "Ready about" and the crew answer "Ready". What do you call as you put the helm over?
C. "Lee-oh!"
"Lee-oh" (or "Helm's a-lee") tells the crew the bow is now turning through the wind.
You are at the wheel and put the engine into reverse. What do you expect first?
D. The stern swings to port before she gathers way
Prop walk pushes the stern sideways in reverse, most of all before the boat is moving.
Anna is taking over the helm from you. What do you tell her?
D. The course, the wind, and the ferry ahead
A handover gives the course, the wind and sail trim, and any traffic to watch.
All 20 questions of this topic are in the app: practice by topic with the reason after every answer, your mistakes brought back, and a timed mock exam. Free, no sign-up, in the browser or in Telegram.