How-to
Lesson: 2
Heave-to with First Reef Sailing
Captain Paul Sullivan
American Sailing School
American Sailing schools are using SeaPeople to engage with their students before, during and after class. Captain Paul Sullivan of First Reef Sailing out of Boston, MA is taking things one step further, incorporating education (with a great sense of humor) directly into his SeaPeople trips.
Step-by-step heave-to
📍 Step 1: Choose Your Spot
Find a safe, open area away from traffic — plenty of room to drift.
🧭 Step 2: Sail Close-Hauled
Get on a close-hauled point of sail (as close to the wind as possible).
🗣️ Step 3: Prep the Crew
The helm announces: “Ready to heave-to?” Crew responds: “Ready!”
✅ Never perform a maneuver without clear communication.
🪢 Step 4: Ease the Mainsail
Easing the mainsheet reduces boat speed and prepares for the maneuver.
🌬️ Step 5: Head Into the Wind
Slowly head up into the wind to continue bleeding off speed.
🔁 Step 6: Cross the Wind & Backwind the Jib
Just before losing steerage, let the bow cross the wind. Leave the jib sheeted on the original side — it will backwind against the mast.
🧭 Step 7: Steer Toward the Wind & Lock the Helm
Gently turn back toward the wind, balancing the pressure. Lock the tiller to windward using the extension or line.
🥩 Step 8: Grill Steak Tips
You’re hove-to — stable and drifting slowly. Take a break, snack or reef the main.
Tiller locked to — helm balanced and stable!
Backwinded jib keeping us hove-to and chillin’. Nice work, crew!
Learn more about Captain Paul Sullivan
Captain Paul is a Master Instructor with the American Sailing Association and a six-time ASA Outstanding Instructor of the Year - basically the Tom Brady of sailing teachers (but with more SPF and fewer concussions).
He’s the proud owner of SailTime Boston and the co-founder of First Reef Sailing School, one of Boston’s only ASA-accredited training centers and arguably the most fun place to hoist a mainsail without accidentally swearing in front of children.
When he’s not teaching people how to safely crash less into docks, Paul can be found migrating boats up and down the coast, explaining for the hundredth time that “reefing” doesn’t involve coral, or telling stories that start with “So there I was, in 30 knots, making coffee...”
If you see him on the dock, say hi—but be warned: he will probably try to talk you into a debate about the best single malt Scotch.
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