Broad reach

A broad reach is a point of sail where the true wind blows from behind the vessel's beam, angled between approximately 110° and 160° relative to the bow (commonly centered around 135°). According to Wikipedia, a point of sail represents a sailing craft's direction of travel relative to the true wind direction, placing a broad reach right between a beam reach (90°) and running downwind (180°).

It is widely regarded as one of the fastest and most comfortable points of sail on a cruising sailboat. The sails act largely through a combination of aerodynamic lift and drag. Mainsails and headsails are eased out significantly away from the centerline, and downwind sails like gennakers or spinnakers are often deployed. Understanding how the vessel responds on a broad reach requires tracking the true and apparent wind, as apparent wind angle shifts forward as speed increases.

In nautical English, the term "reach" can also serve as a homonym, referring to a straight section of a river or navigable channel, as opposed to the point of sail. Helmsmen on a broad reach must maintain active vigilance to avoid an accidental gybe caused by a sudden shift in wind or sea state. Executing controlled sailing maneuvers, such as planned tacking and gybing, remains essential for safe steering and tactical course adjustments when sailing on a broad reach.