Steer, to. To control the course by the use of the helm and rudder.
Stern. The extreme rear, or after, part of a vessel.
Strategy. That department of the Art of War which decides the distribution and movements of armies, or of fleets, with reference to the objects of a campaign as a whole.
Strike, to. Applied to the flag. To haul down the flag in token of surrender.
Tack. A vessel is on the starboard tack, or port tack, according as the wind comes from the starboard or port hand. See p. [84], note.
Tack, to. When a vessel is close-hauled, with the wind on one side, to tack is to turn round towards the wind, in order to be again close-hauled, with the wind on the other side.
To wear is to attain the same object by turning away from the wind. Wearing is surer than tacking, but loses ground to leeward.
To tack, or wear, in succession, the leading vessel tacks, and those which follow tack, each, as it arrives at the same point; the order thus remaining the same. To tack, or wear together, all tack at the same moment, which reverses the order.
Tactics. That department of the Art of War which decides the disposition and movements of an army, or of a fleet, on a particular field of battle, in presence of an enemy.
Tidal Currents.