Glossary · Sailing & navigation
Broach
Also called: Départ au lof, partir au lof, broaching, départ à l'abattée, lofer, abattre
The boat escapes the helm and suddenly rounds up into the wind, lying on its side.
Downwind under a lot of sail, a gust or a wave can heel the boat so far that the rudder comes out of the water: it stops responding and the boat swings violently into the wind. A broach to leeward is the opposite. These incidents knock the boat flat and can break the rig.
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No source yet · updated 30 Sept 2026