broaching - The unplanned turning of a vessel to expose its side to the oncoming waves. In heavy seas this could cause the boat to be knocked down.
broad on the beam - The position of an object that lies off to one side of the vessel.
broaching / broach to - An unplanned and uncontrolled turning of a vessel so that the hull is broadside to the seas or to the wind.
broad on the beam - At a right angle (90 degrees) to a vessel.
This will tend to push the boat sideways creating a danger of broaching ( uncontrolled broadside positioning of the boat in relationship to the waves ) and capsizing.
The helmsman must be always on the alert to prevent the boat from "broaching to," which means flying up in the wind; or from being "brought by the lee," which means running off so as to bring the wind on the other quarter.
In this way, if control is lost, the vessel will avoid broaching (turning edge-to-the wind), and being beaten by breaking waves. Broaching always causes uncomfortable motion, and in a storm, the breaking waves can destroy a lightly built boat.
A controlled gybe, with all hands aware and the boat made ready, is nothing to fear, especially if the helmsman middles the helm as the boom swings over, thus steadying the vessel, preventing broaching (spin turning beam on to the wind, ...
 See also: Hull, Point, Broach, Sailing, Bow
  
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