Jeff wrote:
Bart wrote:

you would still be better off sailing
into the current which would reduce your speed and give you more
control--in the typical currents you are likely to encounter.

No. Sailing into the current would be sailing downwind and you would
have the least control. Across the current would be reaching, and
down current wound be upwind.

Sailing into the current would give you the more control
because you would have the more flow across the
rudder. You would be moving backwards, as the current
drove you down current, but relative to the water you would
be making way forwards or at some angle to down current.
As I pointed out 45 deg to down current would be the best
choice.

You would not want to go directly into the current as in this
case you would surely be moving backwards and only able to
change the direction the boat was pointing. It would be better
to sail at an angle of about 45 degrees to the current with an
apparent wind beam reach course if you were leaving a dock.
This would get you clear of obstacles down current, because
you would still be forced down current.