To head up is to turn the bow of the boat toward the wind. It is one of the two fundamental steering actions under sail, the other being to bear away or bear off, which turns the bow away from the wind. When you head up from a reach you close the angle between the boat and the wind, the sails need sheeting in, the boat heels more and the apparent wind goes forward; head up far enough and you reach close-hauled, then head to wind, then into irons with the sails flapping. Beginners learn “head up” as a helm command. Experienced sailors know it as a trim tool, because a small change of heading is often the quickest way to depower a boat in a puff or to squeeze a few degrees of height out of a beat.
How to Head Up
On a tiller boat, push the tiller to leeward and the bow swings to windward. On a wheel, turn the wheel toward the windward side. Either way, make the movement smooth and modest: a rudder slammed across acts as a brake. As the bow comes up, the sails will begin to luff along their leading edges unless the sheets are trimmed to match the new angle, so heading up and trimming go together – “harden up” is the phrase for doing both at once.
When to Head Up
Sailors head up for many reasons, and the amount varies from a couple of degrees to a full turn into the wind:
- To depower: in a gust, heading up a few degrees so the front of the sails just begin to lift – feathering – sheds power and keeps the boat on her feet without touching the sheets.
- To take a lift: when the wind shifts favourably on a beat, the telltales tell you to head up and gain height.
- To slow down: heading up until the sails luff is the brake you use on the start line or when coming alongside.
- To tack: a tack begins by heading up through head-to-wind and continues onto the other tack.
The Physics Behind It
A boat naturally wants to head up when she heels. As the hull leans, its underwater shape becomes asymmetric, the drive from the sails moves out to leeward of the hull’s resistance, and the two form a turning couple that pushes the bow to windward. This is weather helm, and in moderation it is useful: the boat heads up in a puff by herself, depowers, and comes back down as the gust passes. Too much and the helm is heavy and the rudder drags. The sailmaker’s interest is direct – a mainsail with its draft too far aft or a leech too closed exaggerates the tendency, and flattening the sail or opening the leech with twist calms it down.
Cruising and Racing Perspectives
The cruiser heads up to reduce heel and ease the boat’s motion, to heave to or reef, and to stop. Heading up into a gust is the first response before the sheets are eased, and knowing that the boat will stop when she is head to wind is the foundation of picking up a mooring under sail. The racer heads up by inches: feathering in puffs to keep the boat flat while the crew trims, heading up to gain height on a lift, heading up to hold a competitor out at the start or to stay above a layline. Racers also know the cost – head up too far and you pinch, the boat slows, leeway increases and you lose more than you gained.
Related Terms and Common Mistakes
Head up, come up, luff up and harden up all describe turning toward the wind, with luff up implying you go far enough for the sails to luff. Pinching is heading up beyond the point of best speed. Head-to-wind is the position with the bow directly into the wind, and in irons is being stuck there. Bear away, bear off and fall off are the opposites. The commonest mistakes are heading up without trimming so the sails flog, heading up so fast that the rudder stalls, and steering by instinct rather than by the telltales – see also luff, pinch and weather helm.
Frequently Asked Questions about Heading Up
Which way do I move the tiller to head up?
Push the tiller to leeward, away from the wind, and the bow turns to windward. With a wheel, turn it toward the windward side.
What is the difference between heading up and luffing up?
Heading up is any turn toward the wind. Luffing up means heading up far enough that the sails begin to luff, deliberately shedding power or stopping the boat.
Should I head up or ease the sheets in a gust?
Do both if you need to, but head up first. Feathering a few degrees is instant and reversible; easing the mainsheet works too but takes a moment and needs re-trimming.
Heading up is the simplest move on the boat and the one you will make most often. Do it smoothly, trim as you go, and learn how much your boat needs in a puff or a lift, and you will sail higher, flatter and faster without ever touching a winch.