A weather eye to your sail(s) and a light touch to the tiller (or wheel as the case may be).
Beating.
Usually, this act is called Beating or sailing Close-hauled.
...is called close-hauled.
Sailing close to the wind is dangerous because it increases the risk of the boat tipping over or capsizing due to the strong force of the wind pushing against the sails. This can lead to loss of control and potential accidents on the water.
The closest point of sailing is a "Close reach".Having to sail a sailing vessel into the wind to reach your desired destination requires different skills to what you would use when sailing with the wind: you have to learn how to tack.Tacking is a skill which has to be learned because, if done carelessly, your boat could easily be capsized if a sudden surge of wind catches the sail and drives it in the wrong direction.Most sailors learn about tacking the hard way by finding out for themselves what happens if they sail too close to the wind... Fine judgment of how close to the wind it is safe to sail is soon developed after you have been thrown into the water - and then have to bail out your sailing boat - a couple of times!So the expression sailing close to the wind is often used as a metaphor for taking a risk or testing the limitsof whatever it is that you are doing. For example, someone who regularly drinks too much alcohol and then drives a car immediately afterwards can be said to be sailing close to the wind. But if that person drinks even more than the usual amount one time - thus greatly increasing the risk of causing a car accident - then that behavior can be said to be sailing closer to the wind. And, if an accident then actually happens, that person can be said to have been sailing too close to the wind!
Tack. The verb is to "tack." When you sail a sail boat - or a "sailing boat" in British English parlance - towards or "into" the wind, that action is called "tacking".
The expression sailing close to the wind is often used as a metaphor for taking a risk or testing the limits of whatever it is that you are doing.For example, someone who regularly drinks too much alcohol and then drives a car immediately afterwards can be said to be sailing close to the wind.But if that person drinks even more than the usual amount one time - thus greatly increasing the risk of causing a car accident - then that behavior can be said to be sailing closer to the wind.And, if an accident then actually happens, that person can be said to have been sailing too close to the wind!A sailing boat cannot sail directly into the wind, the more nearly it can get to this is its closest point of sailing. Hence closer to the wind
Sailing close hauled effectively involves key techniques and strategies such as trimming the sails properly, adjusting the sail angle to the wind, maintaining a proper course, and using telltales to gauge wind direction. It is important to keep the boat balanced and make small adjustments to optimize speed and efficiency while sailing close to the wind.
Sailing too close to the wind can lead to capsizing or losing control of the boat, putting the crew at risk of injury or even drowning. It can also damage the boat and its equipment, leading to costly repairs or replacement. Additionally, sailing too close to the wind can result in being stranded at sea or getting lost, increasing the chances of needing rescue.
Sailing close to the wind means sailing as closely as possible into the direction of the wind. This can impact a sailor's navigation strategy by requiring them to carefully adjust their course and sail trim to maintain speed and avoid getting stuck in irons, where the boat loses momentum and becomes difficult to steer.
Close haul sailing involves sailing as close to the wind as possible, typically at an angle of 30-45 degrees. This technique allows the boat to sail upwind efficiently. Key factors to consider when navigating in close haul conditions include wind direction, sail trim, boat speed, and maintaining a proper course to maximize efficiency and speed.
You may mean "By and Large" - meaning steering a course as far downwind as possible, keeping the sails full and the boat speed up. The answer above is completely wrong. One cannot sail both by and large at the same time since they mean opposite things. Sailing by the wind (i.e., sailing by) means sailing as close to the wind as possible. In other words, sailing into the wind. Sailing large means sailing before the wind. That is, sailing with the wind blowing from the aft quarter. So it is impossible to sail both by and large at the same time since that would require sailing in two opposite directions at once.