Wind

Lesson Overview
Wind Terms Wind Problems
True Wind True Wind
Relative Wind Desired Winds
Apparent Wind

Plotting Wind

2
 True Wind
True direction and speed of wind in
relationship with the earth.

Ships heading and speed does not

affect true wind (obviously.)

3
 Relative Wind
Relative direction and speed of true
wind in relationship to your ship.

You will always know relative wind.

Ships anemometer will provide this info.

4
 Apparent Wind
True direction and speed of true wind in
relationship to your ship.

Apparent wind is always on the same

side of the ship as true wind. (i.e. it will
never cross your bow.)

As ships speed increases, apparent

wind moves forward towards the bow.
5
 Plotting Wind
Always referred to as direction FROM
which the wind is coming.

Plotted in the opposite direction, e.g.

plotted as where is wind going?
True Wind
315 15kts
Wind vector
Plotted in the
135 direction. 6
 Working Wind Problems
No relative plot.

Remember wind comes from

somewhere. Plot where it is going.

Convert relative wind to apparent wind.

7
 Wind Vectors
er vector
ships course and speed

rw vector
apparent wind direction and speed

ew vector
true wind direction and speed

8
Determining
True Wind

9
 Setup
Information you NEED to know:
Your course and speed (er vector)
Apparent wind direction and speed (rw
vector)

10
 Determining True Wind
1. Plot your course and speed.

270 15kts

r e

11
 Determining True Wind
2. Convert relative wind to apparent
wind.

Relative Wind
045R 15kts
45

r e
Apparent Wind
315T 15kts
12
 Determining True Wind
3. Move apparent wind vector to end of
er vector.

w
13
 Determining True Wind
4. Draw the ew vector from the center to
the end of the rw vector.
True Wind
going to
202T 11.5kts
r e
True Wind
022T 11.5kts
w
14
 Computing
Desired Winds

15
 Computing Desired Winds
Information you NEED to know:
Where do you want the wind?
True Wind

16
 Computing Desired Wind
1. Compute True Wind.

True Wind
022T 11.5kts

w
17
 Computing Desired Wind
2. Plot a sample course of 000.

e
18
w
 Computing Desired Wind
3. Plot desired winds. (RW)

W Desired Winds
30 to port, 20kts
(330R, 20kts)

R e
19
w
 Computing Desired Wind
3. From the end of the RW line, swing an
arc equal to the speed of true wind.
Desired Winds
330R, 20kts E2
11.5kt
W arc
True Wind
022T 11.5kts E1

R e
20
w
 Computing Desired Wind
4. Connect E1W and E2W.

Desired Winds
330R, 20kts E2

True Wind W
022T 11.5kts E1

R e
21
w
 Computing Desired Wind
5. Measure angle between 000 & E1W.
Measure speed between E1R.
Desired Winds 57 to
330R, 20kts Port

True Wind W
022T 11.5kts E1
10kts
R e
22
w
 Computing Desired Wind
5. Add angle to true wind to get ships
course.
Desired Winds 57 to
022
330R, 20kts Port +57
True Wind W 079
022T 11.5kts E1 Add port
10kts Subtract starboard
R e Ships course
and speed
23
079, 10kts
w
 Computing Desired Wind
6. Do the same for E2W.

Desired Winds
122 to 022
Port
330R, 20kts E2 +122
True Wind W 144
022T 11.5kts 23.5kts

Ships course
R e and speed
144, 23.5kts
24
w
Computing Desired Wind

E2

W
E1

Desired Winds
079 10kts
330R, 20kts R e r1

True Wind
022T 11.5kts w

r2 144 23.5kts 25