Lose Way

To slow until a vessel has little or no movement through the water.

As a vessel loses way, the flow of water over its rudder and other control surfaces decreases, so conventional steering normally becomes less effective. The point at which useful control is lost depends on the vessel, propulsion, wind, current and available manoeuvring systems.

The expression refers primarily to speed through the water. A vessel can have lost way yet continue moving over the ground because it is being carried by tide, current or wind.