Knowledge category
Sailing and Maneuvers: facts
The point of sail is the boat angle relative to the wind.
Tacking turns the bow through the wind; gybing turns the stern through the wind.
Trim changes sail angle or shape; steering changes the boat angle.
Reef before control is marginal; do not wait until steering is already difficult.
Handling Concepts
Close-hauled
Sailing as close to the wind as the boat can efficiently go.
Beam reach
Wind roughly from the side of the boat.
Broad reach / Run
Wind from aft of the beam or nearly behind the boat.
Tack / Gybe
Turns through the wind using the bow or stern.
Sailing and Maneuvers terms
Each link opens the exact terminology entry with a definition, example, aliases, and related terms.
Beam reachA point of sail with wind coming roughly across the side of the boat.Bear awayTurn the bow away from the wind.Broad reachA point of sail with wind coming from behind the beam.Close reachA point of sail between close-hauled and a beam reach.Close-hauledSailing as close to the wind as the boat can efficiently sail.EaseLet a line out in a controlled way.GybeA maneuver turning the stern through the wind so the boom crosses sides.Head upTurn the bow toward the wind.Heave-toA controlled stopped or slow-drifting sailing configuration using backed headsail, rudder, and mainsail balance.In ironsStalled head-to-wind with sails luffing and little steering control.LuffThe leading edge of a sail, or the act of a sail flapping because it is not trimmed or aligned with the wind.No-go zoneThe wind angle too close to the wind for a sailboat to keep sailing efficiently.Point of sailThe boat angle relative to the true wind direction.RunSailing with the wind coming from behind the boat.TackA maneuver turning the bow through the wind; also the side the wind is coming from while sailing.TrimPull in or adjust a sail control to set sail angle or shape.
References
Sources and Method Notes
Boatpedia reference
Open sourceBoatpedia terminology reference
Marine vocabulary reference for definitions, aliases, examples, and related terms.
Next reference
Related Boatpedia Pages
Sailing ReferenceOnboard Directionfoundation / 6 minFixed position words and wind-relative words used to move people and gear around the boat.Sailing ReferenceRig and Sailsfoundation / 7 minMasts, sails, rigging, and the gear that supports or changes the sail plan.Sailing ReferenceWeather and Sea Statefoundation / 6 minWind, tide, current, waves, and visibility words used for planning and underway decisions.