Tack
The lower forward corner of a sail, where it is secured to the boat or rigging.
The tack of a sail is the point where the luff (leading edge) and the foot (bottom edge) meet, typically attached to the boat or rigging. On a mainsail, the tack is secured near the mast, while on a headsail, it is fastened near the forestay. The tack’s position is crucial for sail trim and overall performance.
The term tack is also used to describe which side of the boat the wind is coming from. A vessel on a starboard tack has the wind coming over its starboard side, while a port tack means the wind is coming over the port side. This distinction is important for rules between sailing vessels.