Point of sail (last newbie question for the week)

[ecgossett]

Reading the forums a lot of people talk about the C17 no being able to get close then 90 degrees to the wind. Is this talking about a beam reach? If so how can you go upwind in this especially against a current and wind. My Hobie 16 can get closer then this....

Any help to clarify this would be appreciated.

[Designer]

They are talking about tacking through 90 degrees, 45 degrees from the eye of the wind.