Let's say the wind is coming at you from due North. Generally speaking, you cannot sail any closer to the wind than 45 degrees on either side of it's direction. So you could sail as close to the wind as 45 degrees on a starboard tack, or 315 degrees with your sails on a port tack.
The sail acts as an aerofoil so that when the boat is sailing close-hauled (close to the wind) the wind hits the leading-edge of the sail end on, the curve of the sail then deflects it and produces the force that has a component in line with the boat that drives it forward, with the keel stopping too much sideways movement.
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".
A ship designed to sail into the wind and navigate close to the shore is called a "schooner." Schooners have a unique sail configuration that allows them to sail efficiently against the wind, and their shallow draft enables them to navigate in shallow waters near the shore. These characteristics make schooners well-suited for coastal and inland waterways navigation.
It is not possible to sail directly INTO the wind. Forty-five degrees is about as close as can be gained. Actually they did get the ships to sail into the wind. The above answer is wrong.
You cannot sail with the wind opposite you. If the wind is following you, that is, directly astern, then you sail 'gull winged'.
No matter how hard you, as a sailor, wish the wind to blow, it is uncontrollable.
The phrase "the wind sits in the shoulder of your sail" refers to the way the wind interacts with a sailboat’s sail, suggesting that the wind is filling the sail effectively, allowing the boat to gain speed and direction. This expression can also imply that conditions are favorable for progress or success. In a broader sense, it can symbolize having advantageous circumstances or support in achieving one's goals.
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.
A weather eye to your sail(s) and a light touch to the tiller (or wheel as the case may be).
To sail against the wind, a boat has to 'tack'. This means that instead of sailing straight into the wind (which would get you nowhere) you sail in a zig-zag in the direction you intend to go. On each tack, the wind is on a different side of the sail.
Allegedly, the lateen sail design made it possible to sail closer into the wind. That is, less than 45 degrees from the direction the wind is blowing. No sail boat can sail directly into the wind. Yet.
The lateen sail increased a sailor's ability to sail effectively into the wind, rather than decreasing dependence on the wind's force. By allowing for better maneuverability and efficiency in changing wind conditions, the lateen sail revolutionized sailing techniques and made it easier to sail against the wind.