Sentence:  'Why d'ye see, Captain Vangs,' says bold Jack, 'I'm as good a helmsman as ever put hand to spoke; but none of us can steer the old lady now. We can't keep her full and bye, sir; watch her ever so close, she will <WSD>fall off</WSD> and then, sir, when I put the helm down so gently, and try like to coax her to the work, she won't take it kindly, but will <WSD>fall</WSD> round <WSD>off</WSD> again; and it's all because she knows the land is under the lee, sir, and she won't go any more to windward.' 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To change the direction of the sail so as to point in a direction that is more down wind; to bring the bow leeward.