reaching
n. uncountablen. a way of sailing where the wind comes from the side of the boat. It is usually the fastest and most comfortable direction to travel in.
n. the act of sailing on a point of sail between a beat and a run, with the wind blowing across the beam. Often subdivided into 'close reaching', 'beam reaching', and 'broad reaching' depending on the specific angle of the wind.
We spent the afternoon reaching across the bay in a steady breeze.
The crew adjusted the sails for reaching as they turned the corner of the island to head east.
While beating into the wind requires constant tactical adjustments, reaching allows the hull to achieve its maximum theoretical speed with relatively stable sail trim.
From Middle English reching, rechyng, recchinge, rechand, from Old English rǣċende and reċċende (“reaching”), from Proto-Germanic raikijandz, present participle of raikijaną (“to stretch, reach”) and Proto-Germanic rakjandz, present participle of *rakjaną (“to stretch, straighten”). Equivalent to reach + -ing.
From Middle English rechynge, recchinge, from Old English rǣċing (“reaching, extending”), equivalent to reach + -ing.
Primarily used as an uncountable gerund to describe the mode of travel; can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific legs of a journey.