back, to

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 700+ words | Copyright

back, to.
1. The wind is said to back when it changes contrary to its normal pattern. In the northern hemisphere, north of the trade wind belt, the wind usually changes clockwise—from north, through east, south, and west. When the change is anticlockwise, the wind is backing. In the southern latitudes, the reverse is the general pattern of the winds. When the wind backs in either hemisphere it is generally taken as a sign that it will freshen.

2. To back a square sail in a square-rigger is to brace the yards so that the wind presses on the forward side of the sail to take the way off the ship.

See also aback.
3. To back water is to push on the oars when rowing a boat, instead of pulling on them, in order to bring the boat to a stop.

4. To back an anchor, to lay out a smaller anchor, usually a kedge or stream anchor, ahead of the bower anchor in order to provide additional holding power and to prevent the bower from coming home.

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