What nautical term refers to the act of turning a vessel?

Yawing refers to the movement of a vessel when it turns or changes its direction around a vertical axis. This action is typically a result of forces such as wind or waves acting on the hull. Yawing describes the motion that occurs when a boat pivots to the left or right, essentially causing the bow (front) of the vessel to move sideways relative to the stern (back).

This term is fundamental in understanding how vessels maneuver and helps navigators assess the impact of environmental conditions on a ship's steering characteristics. Other terms mentioned, such as tacking, which is a maneuver specifically used by sailboats to turn the bow into the wind for changing direction, and heaving, which refers to the action of lifting or pulling, do not accurately describe the general act of turning a vessel. Ruddering could imply using the rudder to change direction but does not encapsulate the broader motion involved in turning as effectively as yawing does.