Did you know that you could  learn to sail to windward with more power, speed, and performance in five easy steps? Learn these secrets to shorten passage time when cruising in a small sailboat, or knock the socks off the competition on round-the-buoy races. 

Imagine that you've made plans to drop the hook in a protected cove about four nautical miles to the north. The sailing wind right now blows from the north-northwest, just a bit to the side of the cove. That means a long hard beat for you and your sailboat crew. How can you make it to your windward destination fast and easy--and get there before the sun disappears below the ocean surface ? Follow these five simple steps to  pump up your sailing performance :

1. Sketch Your Sailing Track and Wind

Use your nautical gps or navigational chart and plot your sailing course from wherever you are now up to your target . Next, draw a wind arrow near the sailing courseline to show the true wind direction. You will use this wind arrow to make the best decision on which tack to choose for the shortest, quickest time.

2. Choose the Longest Tack

Which tack should you start on? Sail the longest tack first. Choose the tack that takes you closest to your goal and keeps you closest to the sailing trackline . In our opening example the wind was blowing from the north-northwest and our windward destination was to the north. To sail the shortest distance, you would want to start out on port tack.

Make a simple drawing to help you understand this example . Draw a line to the north to represent your sailing trackline . Off to the side of the sailing track , draw a short line from the northwest to represent the northwesterly wind . Next, draw in two sailboats next to each other , but on opposite tacks . Angle one sailboat 45 degrees to  starboard of the wind arrow, and the other 45 degrees to port . You will see at-a-glance that the sailboat on port tack can sail the longer tack and it will sail closer to the destination .

3.  Take Advantage of Each Lift

Keep your eyes on the water surface upwind for indications of "cat's paws". These dark, rippled patches on the water show areas of gusty sailing breezes . When a gust arrives at your boat , the wind will shift toward the stern. That  allows you to steer closer to the wind--or gives you a "lift"   toward your goal . Use lifts to sail even closer to the sailing track and keep the boat pointed toward your intended goal .

4. Wait for a Long Header to Tack

Tack when the breeze shifts toward the bow--or "head of the sailboat "-- for more than 30 seconds. Headers can be just a passing wind direction shift .  But if the header lasts more than 30 full seconds, that indicates a more permanent wind shift. You'll want to tack right away to stay as close as possible to your sailing trackline to make it to your upwind target fast.

5. Keep Your Sails Trimmed for Maximum Performance

Continue this sailing sequence of pointing up on lifts and tacking on sustained headers to keep your boat close to the sailing track. Take care not to over-trim your sails (called "stalling"), because this can result in excessive side-slip to leeward (downwind). Ease the mainsheet an inch or two and match the headsail trim to the mainsail trim. This will keep both sailboat sails driving with power and blazing speed all the way up the sailing track .

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Follow these five simple sailing tips to learn to sail a boat upwind with more power and speed, whether cruising sailing or racing sailing. You will discover the thrill and satisfaction of quicker , easier upwind passages--wherever in the world you choose to sail .