wind

To wind a ship means to swing her around end for end, pivoting her on her center so that bow becomes stern and stern becomes bow. This is a fundamental maneuver used to reverse direction when a vessel cannot proceed forward due to obstruction, shallow water, or the need to retreat from a berth or anchorage. The term survives from centuries of sail, where turning a large square-rigger around required precise seamanship and timing.

The mechanics depend on the vessel's type and available space. A ship with sufficient maneuvering room will wind by applying full rudder to swing the bow through a wide arc until she has rotated 180 degrees. In confined spaces such as a dock or narrow channel, windage and engine power become critical; a ship with high freeboard above water will be pushed sideways by wind during the turn, complicating the maneuver. Modern motor vessels wind more readily than sailing ships because they can apply power in multiple directions and hold a steady heading during the rotation.

Winding differs from tacking, which occurs when a sailing vessel comes about across the wind by rotating only until the bow has passed through the eye of the wind. A ship that is attempting to wind at sea but lacks sufficient space to complete a full 180-degree turn without drifting or striking an obstacle is said to be unable to wind; she must instead find an alternative maneuver or wait for conditions to improve.

The term also appears in shipyard practice when a vessel is rotated in a graving dock or on a ship's cradle to present different sections to workers. This technical sense is less common in modern usage but remains standard in heritage and restoration work. In both maritime and yard contexts, winding a large vessel requires crew coordination and careful attention to overhead clearance, adjacent vessels, and seabed conditions.