Head to Wind

With a vessel’s bow pointing directly into the true wind.

A sailing vessel placed head to wind normally has little or no aerodynamic drive from its fore-and-aft sails, which luff unless backed or otherwise controlled. The condition is used during some sail-hoisting, lowering and reefing operations, but the best heading depends on the sail, rig, sea state and available control.

The vessel may still make headway, sternway or sideways drift and may quickly fall off onto one tack. Wind observed aboard can differ from true wind while the vessel is moving, so helm, sea room, waves and nearby hazards remain relevant.