TACK, is also applied, by analogy, to that part of any fail to which the tack is usually fastened.
A ship is said to be on the starboard or larboard tack, when she is close-hauled, with the wind upon the starboard or larboard side; and in this sense the distance which she sails in that position is considered as the length of the tack; although this is more frequently called board. See that article.
To TACK, to change the course from one board to another, or turn the ship about from the starboard to the larboard tack, in a contrary wind. Thus a ship being close-hauled on the larboard tack, and turning her prow suddenly to windward, receives the impression of the wind on her head-fails, by which she falls off upon the line of the starboard-tack. Tacking is also used in a more enlarged sense, to imply that manoeuvre in navigation by which a ship makes an oblique progression to the windward, in a zig-zag direction. This, however, is more usually called beating, or turning to windward.
Tack
Tagara. ward. See NAVIGATION, SAILING, and Naval Tactics, under WAR.