A loose sail approach is bringing the boat to a controlled stop on a closed hauled and makes it possible  to sail real slowly. This allows you to arrive in a controlled way at a buoy, a mooring pole or a windward shore. By letting the sails out more or less you can precisely control the speed of the boat. If you sail too slowly, the boat will no longer responds to its helm and will you loose control. The art is to maintain just enough speed to still be able to steer. Practice this useful skill often and under different wind conditions.

If you want to stop the boat quickly, you can steer the boat from a beam reach course into the winddirection. This is called Coming to irons. In order to stop the boat at a specific point (for example a buoy or a leeward shore), you need to know the braking distance of the boat well. This braking distance depends on:

• the initial speed on the beamreach course
• the turning speed (amount of rudder)
• the wind force after the turning movement

These factors also determine the distance you choose between your target and the beam reach course. So practice this often and under different windconditions!
Warn the crew in time by calling "ready for coming into irons".

After the turn, keep the sheets well released, so let the sails flap.

If you come in too fast , you can do two things:

• Bear away with the helm and by backing the jib on windward and simultaneously loosen the mainsheet.
• Use the 'emergency brake' by pushing the boom quickly and hard against the wind.