Heaving to

In sailing, heaving 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. 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.

Heaving to can make reefing a lot easier, especially in traditional vessels with several sails.
It is also used as a storm tactic.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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