A sailor knows how to use the tools at his/her disposal. Try a google
search for such elementary questions and then ask harder questions here.

Cheers

Julia wrote:

I have a question. How do you make a sailing boat go when the wind is
blowing sideways? I know that when the wind is blowing from the front
the boat can't go and that when it is blowing from the back it will
push you through the water. But when the wind is coming from your
side what keeps the wind from blowing you sideways?

I am interested in learning to sail a boat and want to buy my own
little one first. What would be better, a runabout or one of those
little ones with a little cabin underneath?