ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bolina

Bolina is actually a Spanish word that means "tack" in English. In sailing terms, a tack is a maneuver where the boat changes direction by turning forward through the wind.

Imagine you are playing with a toy boat in a bathtub. If you want to make the boat go in a different direction, you have to move it with your hands. But if you have a big sail on the boat, you can use the wind to move it instead.

Now, let's say the wind is blowing towards the front of the boat, and you want to turn and go in the opposite direction. To do this, you need to use the Bolina maneuver, or tack. You turn the boat through the wind, which causes the sails to fluff and then fill with wind on the other side. This pushes the boat in the opposite direction.

So, Bolina is like doing a u-turn with a boat using the power of the wind, instead of paddling with oars or using a motor. It's a bit tricky to do, but once you get the hang of it, it's really fun!