Sailing into the wind is one of the fundamental modes of sailing, in which the boat uses properly trimmed sails to move as close as possible to the direction of the wind. Because a sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind, this type of sailing takes place in a zigzag pattern known as beating. The boat alternately sails on one tack and then the other, gradually approaching the desired direction through a series of turns into the wind. Precisely because of this limitation, tacks are an inseparable part of sailing to windward.
A tack always begins from a stable upwind course, when the sailboat has sufficient speed and the crew is ready. During the maneuver itself, the mainsail usually does not require special attention, as only the side from which the wind blows changes, while the angle of the wind relative to the boat’s longitudinal axis remains the same. The mainsail therefore automatically eases and briefly luffs into the wind during the tack, then fills again on the opposite side after the turn. Because of this sequence, there is no danger of a sudden and uncontrolled swing of the boom, which is characteristic of a jibe.
The jibm however, must be actively transferred to the other side of the boat during the tack. This means that at the right moment the old working sheet must be released while the new sheet on the opposite side is trimmed in. Proper timing of this action allows the sail to pass smoothly across the bow and fill again quickly, helping the boat retain as much speed as possible.
Sailing to windward can also be performed by a single person when using an autopilot, as the autopilot maintains the course while the sailor handles the sheets. In practice, however, it is often more efficient to divide the tasks among several crew members. Most commonly, this involves the helmsman, one person releasing one jib sheet, and another person trimming in the opposite sheet.
