In the wind circle, which zone describes the area you cannot sail into?

• A. No go zone
• B. Upwind zone
• C. Broad reach
• D. Run

Answer: (A)

Understanding the wind circle helps you know which directions you can sail relative to the wind. There is a sector directly in front of you, the no-go zone, where you can’t sail because the wind is coming too close to head-on for the sails to generate forward thrust. Sails work best when the wind hits them at an angle, so in that zone the boat won’t move forward effectively. To go toward the wind you instead sail at an angle and tack back and forth, gradually steering upwind. The other zones describe directions you can sail: toward the wind is the upwind area (but not straight into the wind), off the wind toward the side is a broad reach, and directly behind you is a run. So the area you cannot sail into is the no-go zone.