to windward

Related to to windward: Windward Islands

to windward of (something)

obsolete To or into a more advantageous position in respect of something or some situation. An allusion to sailing (in which it is still used literally), in which it is most advantageous to be on or toward the side from which the wind is blowing. The company's many lawyers have ensured that it remains to windward of the new tax laws.
See also: of, windward
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

to windward

Toward an advantageous position, as in We were hoping to get to windward of the situation. This expression transfers the nautical meaning of the phrase, "move in the direction from which the wind blows," to other kinds of undertaking. Its figurative use dates from the late 1700s.
See also: windward
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

to windward

Into or to an advantageous posture or position.
See also: windward
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • to windward of
  • to windward of (something)
  • windward
  • to the good
  • place in the sun
  • a place in the sun
  • a/(one's) place in the sun
  • be onto a good thing
  • on to a good thing
  • onto a good thing
References in classic literature
"Suppose it took you six times that long to return to windward; that would bring you back by the end of a week."
South Sea Tales
Prior to Windward, he was a vice president in the Wealth Management division of Goldman Sachs & Co (NYSE: GS) where he worked with corporate executives and high net worth families.
Wellesley Investment Partners names president
Earlier, he went to Windward Mall in Kaneohe to see a 3D version of the movie Avatar with his daughters and family friends.
HAWAII THIGH-O
At a port rounding, if a port tack boat thinks she has room to tack in front of an approaching starboard boat then she surely has enough room to sail across her and tack to windward and avoid risking a breach of RRS 18.3.
Manners at the mark: the final article in Offshore Yachtings three-part introduction to the revised racing rules of sailing examines rules 18, 19 and 20 and what they have to say on your rights and responsibilities rounding the mark
The wind was light to medium throughout and the starts were close, but Twisted Skippers squeaked ahead in both races after a post-start pinching match to windward.
Trapseat champs crowned
As a child author Elsie Hulsizer spent her summers sailing in a small sailboat with hr parents, and as an adult she and her husband spent their summers sailing out of Puget Sound and up the straight of Juan de Fuca--also to windward, where they explored the west coast of Vancouver Island over a twenty-year period.
Voyages to Windward
As a child author Elsie Hulsizer spent her summers sailing in a small sailboat with hr parents, and as an adult she and her husband spent their sumemrs sailing out of Puget Sound and up the straight of Juan de Fuca--also to windward, where they explored the west coast of Vancouver Island over a twenty-year period.
Voyages to Windward
It was October 1998, the middle of the hurricane season in the Caribbean, and he had learned of a large and erratic cyclone roiling up to windward. The hurricane--Tropical Storm Mitch--was, in fact, rapidly building into a Category 5 storm, and was destined to become one of the most destructive on record.
Carrier, Jim. The ship and the storm; Hurricane Mitch and the loss of the Fantome