The only way I can think that this would be possible is if the wind was blowing directly onshore?
Edit: thanks for all the well thought out replies. I think I’ve got it figured out know, I’ve always Been a bit confused about ships tacking into to wind and I think the key thing I was missing was the sail being using like as an airfoil creating pull, used in tandem with with the fins/keel .
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When sailing toward the wind, you are being **pulled** by it instead of pushed.
A windsurfer, like all modern sailboats, can ”sail into the wind” because the shape of the bent sail works like an **airplane wing** (except its turned vertically). When the wind flows faster on the outside of the sail than the inside, it creates “**lift**” (like an airplane) except the lift is pulling the boat forward instead of up. The keel on the bottom of the boat, which is like a upside down shark fin, works kinda like the tail of an airplane, and keeps the boat from being pushed sideways.
Windsurfers (and sailboats) cannot sail directly towards the wind, they have to **zigzag**, because there is no lift from the sail unless it is angled somewhat. I know this sounds unbelievable, but so does the flight of an airplane until you understand how a wing works.
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