Reaching

Sailing with the apparent wind between close-hauled and directly astern.

The range includes close, beam and broad reaches. Fixed degree limits are only illustrative because a vessel’s no-go angle, speed and apparent-wind direction vary with design, sails, conditions and course.

Reaching trim generally eases sails progressively as the wind moves aft and may use different sails or control settings. Loads, heel and accidental-gybe risk can remain high, particularly on fast craft whose apparent wind stays well forward even on a broad true-wind course.