| Knowing the direction of the wind is one of the | | | | The mast head fly is a step better than the wind |
| most important aspects of sailing properly and | | | | instrument. Since it always reads the apparent |
| safely. Trimming sails correctly, identifying points | | | | wind, the mast head fly eliminates one of the |
| of sail, and executing procedures such as | | | | issues inherent with wind instruments, like figuring |
| man-over-board and heaving-to, for example, all | | | | out if you are looking at true or apparent wind. |
| require knowing the direction of the wind. Yet, | | | | However, looking up at the mast head to quickly |
| many beginners find it very difficult to find the | | | | identify prevailing wind direction is also difficult for |
| source of the wind direction. Moreover, even | | | | new sailors. Similar to staring at wind instruments, |
| when they do find the correct wind direction, it is | | | | long periods looking straight up at the top of the |
| a very time consuming process. | | | | mast make steering a boat straight very difficult |
| This article describes typical mistakes made by | | | | for newcomers. Again just like looking at the wind |
| beginning sailors and then introduces a simple and | | | | instrument for long periods, what appears to be a |
| reliable method to find the direction of the wind | | | | shifting wind can be nothing more than the boat |
| quickly while sailing. The observations and | | | | turning. In summary, while better than the wind |
| suggestions in this article were generated during | | | | instrument, reading the wind direction quickly from |
| the sailing lessons taught at Fair Wind Sailing | | | | the mast head fly can be a trickly and time |
| School. | | | | consuming endeavor the new sailor. |
| Common Mistakes | | | | A third common mistake for beginners is to over |
| Beginning sailors typically make two common | | | | think the situation. Typically, this occurs with |
| mistakes when attempting to identify the wind | | | | confusion between true and apparent wind and |
| direction. The first is to stare at the wind | | | | trying to estimate one from the other. When |
| instruments and solely rely on the instruments to | | | | starting out, newcomers can simplify the situation |
| reveal the source of the wind. While instruments | | | | by remembering that we feel only the apparent |
| can be a valuable aid to navigation, prior to the | | | | wind. Since we also trim sails and run the boat to |
| development of basic sailing skills are developed, | | | | apparent wind, this is the only wind data point we |
| they can often be confusing and even misleading. | | | | need. It is the apparent wind, then, that we are |
| Our experience has been that the wind | | | | looking for and that we can feel. For the beginner, |
| instrument is usually the worst place to find the | | | | focus on the apparent wind and forget the true |
| wind direction for a beginning sailor. First, reading a | | | | wind to simply observations and speed you |
| wind instrument may not be intuitive to the new | | | | decision making. |
| sailor. It is quite common for new sailors to | | | | A Simple and Easy Method To Identify Wind |
| misread the instrument confusing true versus | | | | Direction |
| apparent wind or even misreading the directional | | | | To identify the wind direction, we need a method |
| arrow of an analog wind gauge. Even more | | | | to avoid the common mistakes. This means first |
| concerning is that -- as any experienced sailor will | | | | of all, ignoring the instruments. Instead, we will |
| testify -- wind instruments are typically wrong. | | | | identify the wind direction the old fashion way -- |
| Calibration issues, slow response times, shifting | | | | we will feel it. To feel the wind, we will also need |
| winds and knowing how to switch between true | | | | minimal distraction. We accomplish this by closing |
| and apparent readings all contribute to wind | | | | our eyes, too! It may sound counter-intuitive to |
| accuracy readings that are far too often different | | | | close your eyes when steering a sail boat, but we |
| from the actual conditions. This is especially true | | | | will only need a second or two with this |
| for lower cost wind instruments. | | | | procedure, and closing your eyes for a second or |
| Even if the wind instrument is reading correctly, it | | | | two is far better than staring at instruments for |
| can take the beginning sailor a long time staring at | | | | long periods. |
| the wind instrument to read it correctly. While | | | | The total procedure is very simple, close your |
| staring at the instrument, the helmsman is not | | | | eyes, feel the wind on your cheeks and turn your |
| looking out. It is quite common, again particularly | | | | head until you are looking directly into the wind. |
| for a beginner, to turn the boat when not looking | | | | You'll be amazed that in a second or two you'll be |
| ahead. As the helmsman unknowingly turns the | | | | able identify the wind direction accurately nearly |
| boat, the direction of the wind appears to turn | | | | 100% of the time. Fast and accurate -- exactly |
| too. Of course, this is not the true weather | | | | the procedure we are looking for! |
| conditions, and it further complicates the first | | | | Summary |
| challenge of finding the direction of the wind. | | | | In summary, to accurately and quickly identify the |
| When taken in combination, the issues of long | | | | wind direction, ignore the instruments and use |
| periods of staring the electronics rather than | | | | your senses. By closing your eyes and feeling the |
| sailing the boat, slow responses to shifting wind | | | | wind on your face, you'll be able to quickly and |
| and potential mis-calibrations, the wind instrument | | | | accurately identify the wind direction nearly 100% |
| is quite possibly the worst way to try and find | | | | of the time in seconds. |
| the wind direction quickly for the beginning sailor. | | | | |