The angle between a sailboat's diraction and the true wind is refered to as points of sailing. The points of sailing are divided into three main categories: running, reaching and sailing upwind.

Running - sailing with the wind blowing from behind. The true angle of wind matches the heading of the boat.

Reaching - is sailing with the wind blowing across the boat. On a broad reach the wind blows at an angle of 45 degrees over the transom.

Upwind - is sailing towards the wind. The goal is to point the boat as high as possible towards the wind, at approximately 30 degrees away from true wind .