Hi I'm Duncan Hood.
Welcome to your ASA Sailing Made Easy Tip - Wind Direction.
You know it's really important to figure out where the wind is coming from. This determines everything you're going to do with the boat. What tack you're gonna be on, how to get off the dock, who's gonna get hit downwind - it’s kinda important!
And it's really important for us as sailors to be able to determine the wind direction as easily as possible. And you do that by looking around.
There are clues everywhere. As I walk along this boat for example I can take a look at this little piece of yarn up here. This is a telltale. The telltale indicates the wind direction, where it's coming from, it flows in line with the wind. Likewise looking back along the boat I can see just a random sail tie swinging in the breeze. Likewise a red tape. These all line up with the wind. Back here we've got two flags. These are all clues that you can see. I could look out onto the water and I can actually see waves coming in a certain direction - another indicator of where the wind is coming from. These are really really important clues and clues are everywhere you look.
But the most important clues you're gonna get come from you - your face and your ears, where you feel the wind. A lot of people when they first get on a boat say well the wind is everywhere. Well the wind isn't really everywhere it's coming from a particular direction and I can determine wind direction just by turning my head until it sounds the same in both ears. I’m looking into the wind. Likewise whenever you walk out try to be aware - is the wind on the side of my face? or is it on this side of my face?
Of course too much wind and all your hair blows off like mine! But hey, there you go! Anyway, that's your ASA tip - determining wind direction.
"Sailing Made Easy" - The American Sailing Association textbook. Order your copy today at asa.com
