New sailors learn the different sailing directions based on the direction the wind is coming from. When sailing, it is crucial to understand the physical science of wind forces making it able to sail in many different directions.
Different sailboats have varying abilities to sail up against the wind, or into the direction of the wind, generally 45% into the wind. Sails need to be adjusted and trimmed appropriately for each course direction.
Advance planning is needed depending on the destimation and objective.
” It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go – Jim Rohn”