How can sailboats move forward into the direction of the wind by using their sail?

Question

I don’t get how this is physically possible if the direction you want to go is literally the opposite direction of the way the wind is blowing. How can it ‘push’ them the opposite way it is going?

In: 20

Answer 1

They can’t and don’t. Sailboats use the sail *and the water*. Say the wind blows left. A good sail can use this to push down, and a downward force can become movement down and to the right by pushing off of the water.