society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > direct or manage ship [verb (intransitive)] > head in a certain course or direction > fall behind (3)
intransitive. To fail to maintain the desired speed of progress; to slacken one's pace, as from weakness or sloth; to fail to keep pace with…
intransitive. Nautical. Esp. of a ship or boat: to move or be driven backwards; to fall behind.
To let oneself fall behind or to the rear by making no effort to keep ahead or to the front.