Getting In and Out of Irons

Have you ever found yourself stuck on the water facing into the wind, and your  boat just won’t budge? This situation is known as “being in irons,” which means your boat is stopped while pointing into the wind—also called the No-Go Zone. When this happens, your sails will be flapping (or luffing), and you’ll find it hard to steer.

Here’s How to Get Your Boat Moving Again:

  1. If You Have a Jib (the smaller sail at the front):
    • To turn your boat away from the wind, you can “back the jib.”
    • This means you need to hold the jib sail out to the windward side of the boat, away from the direction you want to go.
    • The wind will push against the jib, helping to turn the bow of the boat without making it go backward too much.
    • As you are backing the jib, be sure to pull the tiller towards you, following the “tiller towards trouble” rule with the “trouble” being the No-Go-Zone.
  2. If You Don’t Have a Jib (just using the mainsail):
    • You can still get moving by backing the mainsail.
    • Push the boom (the  horizontal pole that holds the foot (bottom) of the mainsail). If the boat does not have a jib, back the mainsail by pushing the boom on the side you want to turn toward.
    • At the same time, hold the tiller in that same direction as the mainsail, the direction you want to turn toward.
    • As you back the sails, your boat will start to move backwards. This will cause the bow (the front of the boat) to turn toward the boom, and away from the wind.

Finishing the Turn:

  • Once the wind starts blowing over the windward side (the side facing into the wind), release the backed sail and pull in the sheets (the lines that control the sails) to stop the luffing.
  • Move the tiller towards you, and you’re back on your way!

A Quick Reminder: When backing the sails, remember that the wind will be pushing against you. The stronger the wind, the more pressure you’ll feel. Take care to manage this as you maneuver your boat.

For more beginner-friendly sailing instructions, complete with helpful graphics and diagrams, visit our website to purchase Learn Sailing Right.”