Note 53 — AQUATIC EXERCISES
Reading edition
To turn a vessel from one side to the other with her head toward the wind. When a vessel is obliged to tack several times successively to get to windward, she is said to be beating to windward; when to get up or down a harbour, channel, &c., beating up or down, &c.; when trying to get off a lee shore, clawing off.
A vessel’s tacks are always to windward and forward; and her sheets, to leeward and aft; whence the terms larboard or starboard tack, meaning that she has her tacks aboard on the larboard or starboard side.