Close Hauled Software was formed in 2006 by Phil Johnson. Close hauled is a sailing term referring to the point of sail at which the sailboat is sailing as close to the wind as possible with the sails trimmed tightly. When sailing close hauled, the skipper must be careful not to sail too close to the wind and stray into the 'dead zone.' Once in the dead zone, the sails begin to lose power, the boat slows, and ultimately the skipper may end up losing control of the boat if he is not careful to realize the imminent danger and correct the situation immediately. And of course...the wind speed and direction can change on a moment's notice.
As a sailing enthusiast and software developer, Phil decided that sailing close hauled was an appropriate metaphor for leading software development projects. Being aware of change in direction and reacting quickly and decisively to these changes helps make a successful journey whether dealing with a challenging software project or sailing on the open sea.