Port Tack/Starboard tack

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Don Guillette

Don Guillette

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May 17, 2004
2,110
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
A beginner sailor from Tucson, AZ called me today and wanted to know the difference between the two tacks. Now remember we were all beginners at one time and maybe simple things confused us. I asked him what difference did it make? He told me his instructor keeps asking him and he has to think about the answer too long.

Years ago, on the first day of my first sailing lesson, the instructor asked us the same question. I'd have to think which side is the wind coming over before I could give the answer and I was one of the slowest. Sometimes I'd just guess. I decided there had to be an easier way. I marked a very small "S" on the starboard side of the boom and a very small "P" on the port side. From the cockpit, if I saw "S" on the boom I knew I was on starboard tack. I was always the first to answer from that point on. After a bit I was able to erase the marks.

I get a lot of my material from beginners. I told him to mark the boom and his instructor would think he is a genius and a fast learner.
 
sinnettc

sinnettc

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May 23, 2007
1,306
Catalina Capri 22 Albany, Oregon
The tweakers for the spinnaker are color coded on Verboten: Red - Port, Green - Starboard. I've flown a chute all of one time but I leave the tweakers rigged so I don't have to think too hard about which tack I'm on.

I've also seen some of those pre-printed stickers that read Port/Starboard stuck on people's booms.
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
Harken has a self adhesive sticky marked "Port" (in red) and "Starboard" (in green) which I applied to the aft end either side of my boom years ago. I show all new crew these stickies and explain that the one you can read designates the tack we are currently sailing on. Works like a charm.
 
R

red_dolphin

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Feb 28, 2011
27
Cruisers Cat-30 to Ben 46 Channel Islands, CA
Had red & green telltales attached to the shrouds of the Lido14 -- back in the day.

Might be something I should go back to.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,184
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
I have a pair of Ronstan sailing gloves that have color coded straps... red for the left hand and green for the right.... Now all I have to do is remember which hand is left and which is right so I get the gloves on correctly... then I can always tell what tack I'm on....uh, as long as I'm facing forward... hmmmmm... Think I'll get one off those sticky label thingees that Alan recommends.... don't know why I never thought of that.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,184
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
red_dolphin said:
Had red & green telltales attached to the shrouds of the Lido14 -- back in the day.

Might be something I should go back to.
Click to expand
That's perfect... then you can yell "green!" to that port tack boat bearing down on you.
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
Joe

...you make me laugh !! :D Green, Green, I'm on GREEN !!!
 
C

Calif. Ted

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Jun 8, 2004
2,940
Catalina 320 Dana Point
I was trained to refer to the boom, you can tell with a glance what tack everyone else is on also.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,018
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Save $$ on stickers.

All you have to do is mark ONE side. Your choice.

Say you mark the PORT side only (so that you KNOW that you are always the give way boat if you see the "P"), then the side WITHOUT any marking is the starboard side. :):):)
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,184
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Yeah... it might save me from an overdraft... but I might have to THINK and uh, sometimes that's a problem for me or my crew.
 
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