Tacking

Tacking is a sailing maneuver used to change direction when sailing against the wind. Since sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind, they zigzag, turning their bow (front) through the wind in a series of angles, called "tacks." By doing this, the boat gradually makes progress in the desired direction. Essentially, tacking involves steering the boat back and forth at optimal angles relative to the wind, allowing sailors to reach destinations that are upwind, which would otherwise be inaccessible if sailing straight into the wind.