Points of basic sailing .... There are three points of sailing which are:
1. Beating or Close-hauled A boat is said to be beating or close-hauled when she is headed on a course as close to the wind as she can sail with her main boom sheeted over the boat.
2. Running Free When a boat is sailing in the same direction as the wind she is said to be running free or sailing before the wind, with her main boom let out at nearly a right angle.
3. Reaching A boat is reaching when it is sailing on any course between beating and running free.
The Diagram below illustrates clearly the three points of sailing. WIND

Your boat may sail directly from the centre of the circle to any point in the non shaded area. To reach any point in the area the boat must tack ~O to the wind.

mark his ~ to the wind Therefore a boat will ~e able to sail dir ct to any whic e than ~₅O ofl either siAe of the wind direction. To sail to any point less than h~ direction the boat will not be able to proceed directly but will have to tack.