Quote Originally Posted by BR Mon View Post
A reach is a sailing term...If you catch a favoriable wind and can travel on a "broad reach" that is the fastest point of sail. " We made great distance and time on our last "reach"....".A head wind reuires one to tact several times to get to point B. This can double the distance required to arrive at your distination. Yes you can sail directly into the wind but it requires one to tact (zig zag) to get there. If you have a quartering head wind or a wind across the boat you can set the sail and the boat in a "broad reach" or a reach...My bet is this is where the term started....Yes I was a sailor but not a pirate....
Having raced the Miami - MoBay race several time you don't start reaching until you enter the windward passage. Until that starboard turn it can be a beat.

BTW. There is no such maneuver as "tacking" It's called "coming about. It's one of the "trick" questions on the sailing endorsement test.

Captain D
Master unlimited (AGT) all routes
Master Sail 500 tons
Master Auxiliary Sail
Approved course instructor / examiner < 1,600 GT