1. to turn (a sailing ship) around by swinging the bow toward the wind and using the club (lower end of the boom) to help maneuver, especially in tight quarters or when conventional tacking is difficult
Usage: nautical; past tense and past participle of clubhaul; archaic or specialized maritime term

Examples

• The captain clubhauled the vessel to avoid the rocky shoals.
• When the wind shifted unexpectedly, the crew clubhauled the ship to change direction quickly.
• In the narrow harbor, the sailors clubhauled rather than attempted a standard tack.
• The old sailing manual described how ships were clubhauled in emergency situations.