yaw, to

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 640 words | Copyright

yaw, to.
1. The effect on a ship's course produced by a following wind or sea. With the vessel travelling through the water in the same direction as that in which the sea is running or the wind blowing, the effect of the rudder is diminished and the vessel yaws away from the desired course. A good helmsman can often anticipate the moment when a vessel is most likely to yaw, and correct the tendency to do so by applying the requisite helm to counteract it.

2. When used as a noun, it denotes the involuntary movement caused by wind or sea by which a ship deviates from its chosen course. A yaw can also be caused by a careless helmsman.

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