system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: if ships with sails are heading the opposite direction as the wind is blowing, how do they move forward?

Title.
Edit: Wow front page. First post to do that. Thanks for all the answers. Definitely makes it easier to understand.
gpt
Ships can't sail directly into the wind, but will take more of a zigzag path in the general direction.  The sail generates "lift" as if it was a wing, and combined with a few other factors, can generate enough force to move the boat forward.  The zigzag pattern allows it to sail towards its destination without going too far to one side.