Lee-oh

A traditional warning call made as a sailing vessel begins or commits to a tack.

The call alerts the crew that the bow will pass through the wind and that the sails, boom and sheets will change sides. It commonly follows a readiness call such as ‘Ready about’, but wording and exact timing vary between vessels, instructors and regions.

A call does not confirm that every crew member is ready or that the manoeuvre is safe. The person in charge must establish a shared procedure, obtain acknowledgement where required and check traffic, sea room and people near loaded lines before turning.