A sailboat
broaches when its
heading suddenly changes towards the wind due to
wind/
sail interactions for which the
rudder cannot compensate. This happens when the
aerodynamic force on the rig greatly exceeds the
hydrodynamic force on the
hull, due to a sudden increase in wind strength or turbulent sea conditions. In small boats and dinghies, broaching can lead to a
death roll. In larger boats broaching can lay the mast horizontal, putting both rig and crew at risk. It can be particularly dangerous when racing other boats at close quarters.