the.com/tacking
Sailing into the wind by refusing to sail straight at it.
means Steering a boat in a zigzag of angled legs so it can progress against an oncoming wind.
from From Middle English tak, a fastening or hook — the sail's lower corner was tacked down, then the word came to mean shifting that corner across to change course.
No head-onBoats cannot sail directly into wind.
Zigzag mathNet upwind path is longer than distance traveled.
In arguingChanging tactics mid-debate is also tacking.