Beginners Sailing Manual for a Snark Sailboat

For the novice, a Snark sailboat is a terrific "first boat" on which to learn the basics of sailing. At a mere 50 pounds, Snarks are lightweight, easily rigged, and unsinkable. With the centerboard up, they draw only 2 inches of water. With the board down, they still only draw 14 inches, making nearly any protected body of water an ideal sailing venue. Furthermore, they are usually easy to right after the inevitable capsize of a rookie sailor occurs. Here are some tips to help you sail a Snark.

  1. Unforgiving

    • With their short centerboard and extremely light weight, a Snark needs to be sailed in very light air. Anything much faster than 5 knots may overpower the boat and possibly lead to a capsize. Be sure you and your companion are both wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs). If you do dump the boat; stay with it. It won't sink. If you cannot right the craft on your own, signal for help.

    Tacking

    • Given the Snark’s light weight and extremely shallow draft, tacking; defined as turning through the direction of the wind, should be a gently executed maneuver. A "snap tack"; meaning turning the boat very abruptly, may cause you to capsize. Be certain to call out "ready about" well in advance of an anticipated tack to ensure that your companion has time to prepare to shift their weight. Even with your combined body weight, the boat will turn quickly. As you round through the turn, tighten the sheet to prevent the boom from dragging in the water and dumping you over. Never turn until the response "ready" has been uttered by your crew.

    Puffs

    • Even on protected waters, you may be on the receiving end of a brisk but brief puff of wind. As you visually detect the wind's movement across the water's surface, shift your weight to the windward side and extend your upper body over the rail to help stabilize the boat's angle of heel and counterbalance the strength of the wind. This technique is known as "hiking out". Consider easing the sheet a bit to de-power the rig or as an alternative; steer off the wind a few degrees. If you can keep the boat sailing flat, you will experience a rapid acceleration in speed. For a lightweight boat like a Snark, sailing flat means sailing fast.

    Gybing

    • Gybing; turning the boat in the same direction the wind is blowing; requires the helmsman and crew to pay special attention. As you begin to get ready, tighten the mainsheet and be certain to call out; "preparing to gybe". Your crew will have to be fast on their feet to ensure that as the boat turns, that they shift their weight from the old windward side to the new windward side. Never commence a gybe until you hear the response; "ready". As you execute the turn, call out; "gybe ho". Once the gybe is completed, ease the sheet back out and power up the boat again. Enjoy learning to sail a Snark. It is a terrific boat to learn on.