Helms a Lee: Sailing Definition

Helms a lee definition

Helms a lee, (or, spelled correctly, Helm’s a-lee), is a sailing command used by the helmsman to communicate to the crew when he or she is about to begin tacking (otherwise known as turning the sailboat with the bow through the wind). The command “Helms a lee” lets the crew know when to begin releasing either side of the main sheet or jib sheet in order for the sailboat to turn and maintain speed.

The order of commands as issued by the helmsman is as follows:

1. Helmsman to crew: “Prepare to tack”
2. Crew: “Ready”
3. Helmsman: “Helm’s a-lee!”, or alternatively, the helmsman will say: “tacking!”

This is contrast to jibing, which refers to turning the boat with the stern to the wind. In the case of jibing, the helmsman will shout “jibe-ho!”.

Origins of the term

The term “helms a lee” comes from tiller sailing, where the helmsman would push the tiller to the leeward side of the boat, thus the term “helms a lee”. “Lee”, “alee” and related terms have been used by sailors at least since the first version of Encyclopeadia Britannica was published between 1768 and 1771, and use of the phrase has continued to the modern day, although now its use is considered more old-fashioned. The more common term used in the modern day is simply “tacking!”.

Reference in Sailing Made Easy

In Chapter 3 of Sailing Made Easy, the ASA’s definitive guide on how to sail, the term is presented as a more classic term of the more modern command, “tacking!”.

Alternative Terms

Besides “tacking!” and “helms a lee!”, there are several other commands that are commonly used by the skipper or helmsman to indicate the boat is beginning to tack. Some of these phrases include the following:

• “Hard to lee!”, or “Hard a-lee!”
• “Helm’s away!”
• “Helm’s a’weather!”

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the most important thing when tacking with a crew is that everyone knows what a given command means. So, if a crew isn’t familiar with “helms a lee” or “hard to lee”, then it may make more sense to use the term “tacking” during a tack. Alternatively, you could educate the crew beforehand about the proper course of action to take when the “helms a lee” or “hard to lee” command is given.