In Stays

The moment when a sailing vessel is head-to-wind during a tack, temporarily losing forward momentum.

When a sailing vessel is “in stays,” it refers to the moment during a tack when the boat is head-to-wind, meaning the bow is pointed directly into the wind. This is a transitional phase as the boat moves from one tack (windward side) to the other. During this brief period, the sails lose their aerodynamic shape and stop generating forward propulsion, causing the boat to slow down or even stall. The vessel is essentially in a neutral position, neither on one tack nor the other, and the helmsman must carefully manage the rudder and sails to ensure the boat completes the tack and fills the sails on the new side.

Being “in stays” is a delicate moment, as it requires precise timing and coordination between the crew handling the sails and the person at the helm. If the boat lingers too long in stays, it risks losing too much momentum and may fail to complete the tack, a situation known as being “in irons.” To avoid this, the crew must swiftly adjust the sails and the helm to catch the wind on the opposite side and continue sailing efficiently. The term is most commonly used in traditional sailing vessels, particularly those with fore-and-aft rigging, where tacking is a frequent manoeuvre.