SAILING GLOSSARY

To plane

To plane is when a dinghy accelerates enough for its bow to rise and part of its hull to lift out of the water. The boat then planes across the water, allowing it to reach a higher speed. Not all dinghies can plane: it depends on factors such as hull shape, weight, engine power, and the load on board. With a small engine, just a few extra pounds can make all the difference between planing and moving along slowly while pushing water!