society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (intransitive)] > make progress > move swiftly > increase speed (2)
to shoot ahead: of a vessel, to increase speed suddenly, so as to pass accompanying or competing vessels; hence figurative. Also, to be carried…
(a) intransitive (of a ship, esp. a sailing vessel) to move quickly ahead, as while tacking; to gain on (also upon) another vessel by this means; (b)…