tacking

Tacking is a term used in several crafts and activities, most commonly sailing and sewing, where it denotes a method of changing direction or temporarily securing materials. In sailing, tacking refers to turning the bow of a vessel through the wind to switch from one tack to the other, allowing progress upwind by alternating between two close-hauled courses. This maneuver is fundamental for windward routing and racing, and it is performed in coordination with sail trim and helm control. The opposite maneuver is gybing, where the stern passes through the wind.

In sailing, a tack describes the course relative to the wind, and to tack means to move from a beat on one side of the wind to a beat on the other side. During a tack, the sails are shifted to the opposite side of the boat and re-trimmed for the new direction. The angle to the wind and the boat’s speed influence how effectively a tack can be executed. Tacking strategy is a core skill in competitive sailing and practical seamanship.

In sewing and tailoring, tacking is the use of temporary stitches to hold fabric pieces in place before permanent stitching. Tacking stitches are usually short and easily removable, serving to align patterns, seams, or hems. In upholstery, carpentry, or other crafts, to tack can also mean fastening with tacks or small nails as a temporary or final securing method.

Across its senses, tacking shares a common theme: a provisional, controllable action that enables a change of position or the temporary attachment of components.