Heaving to

Plan view of a sloop hove to. The jib is backed to windward, the mainsail is slightly eased, and the rudder is fixed in an attempt to turn into the wind (which is coming from the top of the diagram).

In sailing, heaving to (to heave to and to be hove to) is a way of slowing a sailing vessel's forward progress, as well as fixing the helm and sail positions so that the vessel does not have to be steered.^[1] It is commonly used for a "break"; this may be to wait for the tide before proceeding, or to wait out a strong or contrary wind. For a solo or shorthanded sailor it can provide time to go below deck, to attend to issues elsewhere on the boat or to take a meal break.^[2]^[3] Heaving to can make reefing a lot easier, especially in traditional vessels with several sails.^[4]^: 113 It is also used as a storm tactic.^[5]

A sailing vessel that is hove to is still, for the purposes of the collision regulations, on a defined tack. Therefore, unless other considerations dictate differently, it is helpful to heave to on the starboard tack, in order to be a "stand-on vessel", as per the regulations.^[4]^: 327

The term is also used in the context of vessels under power and refers to bringing the vessel to a complete stop. For example, in waters over which the United States has jurisdiction the Coast Guard may, under 14 U.S.C. §522, demand that a boat "heave to" in order to enforce federal laws.^[6]

^ Schell, Andy (21 January 2013). "Cruising Tips: Heaving-To". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ www.sailingusa.info/points_of_sail.htm Archived June 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Heavy weather conditions at sea (pictures and further explanation)". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
^ ^a ^b Cunliffe, Tom (2016). Hand, Reef and Steer: Traditional Sailing Skills for Classic Boats (second ed.). Adlard Coles. ISBN 978-1472925220.
^ Bruce, Peter (2016). Heavy Weather Sailing (7th ed.). Bloomsbury. pp. 192–195. ISBN 9781472928207. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ "18 U.S. Code § 2237 - Criminal sanctions for failure to heave to, obstruction of boarding, or providing false information". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2022-11-13.

[Sail_mag-1] Schell, Andy (21 January 2013). "Cruising Tips: Heaving-To". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

[sailingusa-2] www.sailingusa.info/points_of_sail.htm Archived June 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

[sailtrain-3] "Heavy weather conditions at sea (pictures and further explanation)". Retrieved 17 April 2015.

[Cunliffe_2016-4] Cunliffe, Tom (2016). Hand, Reef and Steer: Traditional Sailing Skills for Classic Boats (second ed.). Adlard Coles. ISBN 978-1472925220.

[HWS-5] Bruce, Peter (2016). Heavy Weather Sailing (7th ed.). Bloomsbury. pp. 192–195. ISBN 9781472928207. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

[6] "18 U.S. Code § 2237 - Criminal sanctions for failure to heave to, obstruction of boarding, or providing false information". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2022-11-13.

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