Do you sail to apparent wind or true wind?
In sailing, apparent wind is the speed and direction of wind indicated by a wind instrument (anemometer) on a moving craft (on water, land or ice) in undisturbed air. It is composed of the combined speeds and directions of the craft and wind observed by a stationary wind instrument—the true wind.
What is true and apparent wind?
True wind speed, sometimes known as ground wind, is the actual speed of the wind as it passes over land or the surface of the sea, assuming no tidal flow. Apparent wind speed is the wind you ‘feel’ on you as you sail.
How do you calculate true and apparent wind?
For example, if the apparent wind is 20 knots and the boat is going 6.2 knots at 45 degrees to the true wind then the true wind is 20 – 6.2 + 1.2 = 15 knots. The calculator says 15.1, which is close enough. (I used True Wind Speed = Apparent Wind Speed – Boat Speed + .
What is close hauled in sailing?
If you want to sail to a point directly upwind from you (perhaps a dock or a mark), you must sail a ‘zig-zag’ course to get there. This Point of Sail is known as “close- hauled.” During this turn, the sails and the sailor must switch sides because after the tack the wind will be on the opposite side of the boat.
When under sail the apparent wind is backward or forward of the true wind?
As a general (really general) rule of thumb (unless you’re going downwind), if you point about 15 degrees back from the apparent wind – that’s about (double about) the direction of the true wind. The true wind is said to be “Aft” of the apparent wind.
What does true wind direction mean?
The direction of the true wind relative to the head of the vessel, usually listed as port or starboard. It varies from 0° (wind on the bow), through 90° (wind on the beam), on around to 180° (wind on the stern). The true wind angle is always larger (aft of) the apparent wind.
How close to the wind can you sail?
45°
So a boat can sail close to the wind: typically 45° to the true wind, although many high performance boats go closer than that. And it feels closer than 45°, as we’ll see in diagrams below.