Welcome aboard to my Sailing Tips Blog! Today we have True and Apparent Wind, Wind Direction and Sailing Terms. Please feel free to comment on anything here and visit our Web Site for a free Rules of the Road download!
True and Apparent Wind
The wind hitting a still object is called the True Wind. This wind can cause the object to move,
creating what is known as the Apparent Wind. For example, if you light a candle, hold it in front of you and start walking, you'll notice that the flame changes from a vertical position to bending at a slant towards you and away from the direction you're moving. Here, you, as a moving object, have created your own airflow; you now have Apparent Wind.
The Apparent Wind is the result of the True Wind and the wind created by the sailboat's own movement.
The Apparent Wind seems to come from another direction which makes it difficult to tell the actual direction of the true wind. It is essential to know the true direction of the wind so that you can plot your sailing course accordingly. The sailboat is designed so that the sails can be adjusted to match the Apparent Wind.
Wind Direction
Knowing the direction of the wind is crucial for good sailing. Here are a few good ways to determine it.
As you set out in your boat, you can tell which way the wind is blowing by looking at the flag on your mast.
It blows away from the wind.
You can also tell by looking at boats on their moorings; they head into the direction the wind is coming from.
If you look at gulls or cormorants sitting on docks or pilings, they are most often facing into the wind.
Another way to determine the wind direction is to look at the ripples on the surface of the water.
They travel from the direction of the wind.
Current
Current is water moving sideways. It can be caused by the flow of a river, wind blowing over open water, and differences in atmospheric pressure over the Great Lakes or Tide.
You must remember to compensate for current. A current of one knot can equal 100 ft if drift per minute!
You can detect current by looking at the flow when passing buoys, knowing when high and low tide is and keeping track of your boat's progress. If you're headed in one way but going another, more than likely, it's the current.
Sailing Terms
Downwind-Away form the wind.
Head to Wind-When the boat is sailing directly into the wind.
Leeway-The distance a boat is pushed downwind of its course due to the action of the
wind or current.
Leeward-Away from the wind, downwind
Upwind-Towards the wind.
Windward-Towards the wind, upwind.
Come visit our Web Site, sign up for our Free Monthly Sailing Tips newsletter, and check out our Interactive Sailing trainingCDROM. I and my crew wish you the best in your sailing endeavors! Best to you, Sailor Cull _/)_