To follow the wind and its evolution, it is first necessary to know where it comes from. While this notion may seem elementary to most sailors, it is not given to everyone to feel the wind. Here are some tips to help you determine the wind direction.
Feel the wind on your body
Thanks to your face, you can feel the wind and its exact direction. To do this, turn your face until you feel the wind blowing on you. You should feel an equal breath on each side of your face and an equivalent noise in both ears.
Look at your environment
To find out where the wind comes from, try to find clues on land about its direction: smoke, windsock... On board, you can install a flag or small wires on the shrouds to follow the wind direction. At anchor remember that boats (almost) always point downwind and that in flight, seagulls glide in front of vent?.
Chloé Torterat
Observe the water
Wrinkles in a body of water can be used to determine when the wind comes, just as darker areas on the surface indicate a gust.
Chloé Torterat
Determine wind speed
Once you get used to recognizing where the wind comes from, you can also determine its speed, just by looking at the water. The sheep - small waves covered with foam - appear in small breezes, a force 3 wind (7 to 10 knots).
