Aback

Aback - Condition of sail when the wind pressure is on the leeward or forward side, with sails backed or trimmed to windward (wind on the wrong side of the sails) Also known as "backwinded" ...

aback The set of a boat's sails with the wind on the leeward instead of the windward side abeam A direction at right angles to the centerline of a boat abaft When one point on a boat is aft of the other, ...

ABACK The situation of the sails when the wind presses their surfaces against the mast, and tends to force the vessel astern. ABAFT Toward the rear (stern) of the boat. Behind. ABEAM At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat.

Aback(backwind) - The sail filling on wrong side in the case of sq rigger may cause the ship to back up. Abaft towards the stern. Abeam At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat.

All Aback For'ard - A cry raised when a vessel is sailed so near to wind that the head sails lift or shake.

ABACK - Said of a sail when its sheet is to windward and it drives the vessel astern. ABAFT - Toward the rear (stern) of the boat. Behind. ABEAM - At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat. ABOARD - On or within the boat.

The situation of a vessel, going free, when she has fallen off so much as to bring the wind round her stern, and to take her sails aback on the other side.

Taken aback - An inattentive helmsmen might allow the dangerous situation to arise where the wind is blowing into the sails 'backwards', causing a sudden (and possibly dangerous) shift in the position of the sails.

When a sail is backed or aback it is trimmed to windward rather than to leeward, as is usual. A back eddy is a current flowing against the main current. 2) A counterclockwise wind shift.

Broach - To incline suddenly to windward, so as to lay the sails aback, and expose the vessel to the danger of oversetting. Broad Reach - A point of sail where the boat is sailing away from the wind, but not directly downwind ...

Bagpipe the Mizzen: To bagpipe the mizen is to lay it aback, by bringing the sheet to the mizen-shrouds. (at least to the mid 1700s --1769) Balabra: or Bilander. A Spanish term for a sloop rigged fore and aft.

Behind of the Sails pressed against the mast when the wind is on the wrong, inefficient side. Deliberately sailing aback is useful in close quarters sailing, such as when leaving a jetty or mooring abaft ...

Another tackle should be hooked to the clew and made fast to windward over the main boom and gaff, so that in case of a shift of wind the sheet may be hauled aft on the other side without delay or the danger of getting aback.

Sailors would measure short periods of time before watch changes with a 'couple of shakes'. A griping vessel and a tired helmsman are a dangerous combination, sometimes leading to a vessel being taken aback - with the wind blowing on the wrong side ...

See also: Boat, Light, After, Right, Sailing