Implies to sea-ward; beyond anchoring ground.
♦ To keep a good offing, is to keep well off the land, while under sail.
·noun That part of the sea at a good distance from the shore, or where there is deep water and no ne...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
To keep well off shore while under sail, so as to be clear of danger should the wind suddenly shift ...
The Sailor's Word-Book