A sailor flirts with the edge of control. Sailing downwind heightens the risk factor, but bearing a few simple things in mind can keep the boom tamed.

Perhaps no sailing maneuver instills more apprehension in the beginning sailor like the dreaded jibe. There’s the pirate-like "Prepare to Jibe! Jibe-ho!" command, and in the blink of an eye a whooshing piece of aluminum or wooden boom can come slicing through the air. In it’s uncontrolled state, the shock loads on the blocks and rig can rattle the rig and nerves alike. A beginner sailor may look up to find a maniacal instructor already preparing for the next round of maneuvers. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

One of the keys to jibing in a controlled manner is being orientated to the wind while sailing downwind. Unlike upwind sailing, where once the boat is in a groove even a new sailor can pick up the basics of helming relatively easily, sailing downwind is a little trickier. The apparent wind goes aft and lightens, and the risks are higher. The most important helming cue--wind direction--now comes from behind and it takes some time for new sailors to develop the eyes in the back of their head that helps with steering down wind. It’s easy to detect wind shifts when sailing into the wind, downwind sailing has more nuance. Basically, you’re feeling the wind on the back of your neck and face as you sail. Ears are a good wind indicator as well. If the force of the wind is even on both ears, it means you are facing it or are sailing directly downwind. While there may be fancy gadgets aboard your boat that let you know every degree of wind shift, there’s no substitute for developing your own wind sense, which can only come with experience. The more sailing the better, doctor’s orders. If you find yourself straining to see the compass or digital readouts and start to get a crook in your neck, from looking up at the masthead wind fly, it’s time to get your head out of the boat. Periodically, look behind you and upwind for any dark lines on the water that can indicate a approaching puff or a wind shift. If there are any other boats upwind of you, it pays to give them some special attention to see how they are sailing and if it’s in the same or different wind. If you’re sailing towards shore, picking out a few reference spots on land will help keep you from losing your bearings.

Sailing off the wind brings more nuances. A cat boat in the Bahamas revels in the details.

When sailing downwind a boat typically won’t be headed straight down wind, or dead down wind. It’s slow and also can bring about the chance of accidentally jibing. Heating the boat up, or sailing ten degrees on either side of dead down wind will bring better speed and also reduce the chance of accidentally jibing. If you’re sailing down wind and you see the boom start to rise and the leech of the sail start to curl, it’s time to take immediate action and bear off the wind.

The big concern is the mainsail. The jib will more or less take care of itself and can be trimmed after the main is under control. Jibing, unlike tacking upwind, is when the stern of the boat passes through the eye of the wind. The key to keeping the boom from flying overhead is to center it before the maneuver. First tell everyone aboard that you intend to jibe--communicating with other crew members is probably the most important aspect of a safe jibe--and this includes the ones that may be down below, if your boat has such accommodations. The general rule is the less surprises, the better. This is also a good time for crewmembers to take a look at the various sheets and ensure that each will run freely and not get tangled at an inopportune time. It’s always easier to get lines untangled before they have the power of the wind gods pulling on them. Before you jibe, as with any course change, double check that there are no fishing boats, cruise ships, tugs with tows or other sail boats in your immediate area. Next, sheet in the main along the boat’s center line. This essentially robs the sail of its power when heading downwind. If you think about how to sail a boat to a stop by luffing or pointing the bow into the wind, this is pretty close to the same thing. With the sail sheeted in, there’s less power being produced in it and de-powering the rig is an important step to keeping things under control.

Communicate your intentions, push the tiller to leeward, duck your head, and set off on a new course.

Helm movements are also different. When sailing upwind, helm movements are small. Jibing downwind requires a fairly large change of course. When seated on the windward side of the boat, you’ll pull the tiller toward you, slowly carving a turn. Now is a good time for everyone to crouch down low. Even if you’re sailing a boat that has plenty of clearance under the boom, it’s a good habit to get into--just in case the next boat you may be out on can have something of a deck sweeping boom. In a somewhat related topic, notice where you are sitting in the cockpit and be aware of sail hardware that may be under load. You don’t want to be sitting near traveler cars or in front of winches or on the tail end of any sheets. The stern will cross the eye of the wind, and the boom will come over. Jibe Ho. The jib can now be trimmed by releasing the old sheet and trimming the new one.

Once the main is over, the crew should typically move back to the windward side of the boat--depending on the size of the boat, trim, and wind conditions. Release the mainsheet and trim the sail for going downwind. Get the jib sheeted in and flying smartly. Take your new bearings and soak in the new view.