Lake St. Clair Sailing School & Sail Club

06/18/2026

Great weekend sailing on lake st clair

06/18/2026

Well prepared students

06/18/2026

How often do you think about quiting your job, buying a sailboat and just sail away? Learn to sail at Lake St. Clair Sailing School.

06/17/2026

How to Trim the Vang Ease the Sheet: Let your mainsheet out until the sail is at the desired angle for the run. Apply Tension: Pull the vang line tight until the boom is kept roughly horizontal to the deck and the top batten of your sail is roughly parallel to the boom. Adjust to Conditions: In heavier winds, you will need more vang tension to keep the boom from lifting in gusts. In lighter winds, you can ease the vang slightly so the sail breathes and holds its shape naturally

06/17/2026

On the left side, the boom vang is tightened. A tight boom vang pulls the boom downward, reducing sail twist and keeping more of the sail exposed to stronger wind higher aloft. This increases power and can cause the boat to heel more aggressively. Tight vang settings are commonly used when sailors want maximum sail efficiency and speed.

On the right side, the boom vang is loosened. A loose boom vang allows the top of the sail to twist off and spill excess wind. This reduces pressure on the upper part of the sail, decreases heeling, and gives the boat a more balanced and comfortable ride in stronger winds.

The diagram highlights an important sailing principle:

Tight Boom Vang = More Power & More Heel
Loose Boom Vang = Less Power & Better Control

Boom vang adjustment is an essential sail-trimming technique used to control sail shape, boat balance, and overall performance.

06/15/2026

When the wind is light, moving the crew to the leeward side helps the sailboat sail more efficiently by creating a small amount of heel (lean) toward the leeward side.

Here’s why:

1. Improves Sail Shape

A slight heel helps the sails form a better aerodynamic shape, allowing them to generate more lift in light air.

2. Reduces Wetted Surface

Most sailboats are designed to sail best with a small amount of heel. Leaning the boat slightly can reduce the amount of hull dragging through the water, decreasing resistance.

3. Helps the Sails Fill

In very light wind, sails can collapse or flap. A gentle heel encourages the sails to hold their shape and stay full of wind.

4. Better Steering Feel

A slightly heeled boat often gives the rudder better “bite” in the water, improving control in slow conditions.

Important Balance

Too much heel is bad, even in light air. The goal is usually only a few degrees of heel — just enough to keep the boat “alive.”

In stronger winds, the opposite is usually true:

Crew moves to the windward side
This counterbalances the force of the wind
Keeps the boat flatter and faster

A common sailing saying is:

“Flat is fast” in stronger wind,
but in very light air, “a little heel helps.”

06/14/2026

Sunset sailing every evening!

06/14/2026

Sunset sailing every evening on Lake St. Clair

06/14/2026