2026 US Sailing Basic Keelboat Complete Practice Test

Jibe is the maneuver of changing direction by turning the stern through the wind, which makes the sails swing from one side of the boat to the other. As you steer, the stern passes through the wind and the boat pivots so the sail area shifts from on one tack to the opposite tack. This is different from tacking, where you turn the bow through the wind to change direction. A jibe can be quick and powerful, so you’ll want to ease the mainsheet and steer smoothly to keep the boom from banging across the cockpit. The other terms refer to different ideas: jibe-ho is a controlled jibe technique, often used with downwind sails; a jiffy reef is a quick way to reduce sail area; a jury rig is an improvised repair to the rig. So the term that means changing direction by steering the stern through the wind is jibe.