Which term describes sailing in a direction with the wind forward of the beam (about 70 degrees from the bow)?

• A. Close Hauled
• B. Close Reach
• C. Adrift
• D. Charter

Answer: (D)

When the wind comes from forward of the beam, you’re on a close reach. An angle of about 70 degrees from the bow places the wind ahead of the side but not directly ahead, which is exactly what a close reach describes: you’re sailing fast enough with the wind coming from forward of the beam, and you trim the sails a bit more than you would for a tighter upwind course to catch that wind efficiently.

Close-hauled would be wind even closer to the bow (more upwind and with sails tightened), while a beam reach has the wind from the side (90 degrees from the bow). Adrift isn’t a point of sail at all—it means the boat isn’t under sail power. Charter isn’t a sailing term for a direction or point of sail.