What effect does little heel have when sailing upwind?

• A. Increased Weather Helm
• B. Better Steering and Optimal Sail Shape to Avoid Luffing
• C. Higher Drag
• D. Reduced Speed

Answer: (B)

When sailing upwind, keeping the boat nearly upright helps you maintain a steady angle to the wind and trim the sails so they work as efficiently as possible. Little heel keeps the center of effort from the sails aligned with the boat’s center of lateral resistance, which reduces the tendency for the helm to push the bow into the wind (weather helm) and makes steering easier. It also lets you trim the sails so they maintain the proper shape and angle of attack, avoiding luffing and keeping the airflow smooth over both sails. The result is better steering control and more efficient upwind speed.