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Sailing reference
Clear explanations of the language used in navigation, pilotage, weather, safety and life under sail.
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Water dragged along by sustained wind blowing over the sea
A sustained wind generates a surface drift of roughly 2 to 3 per cent of wind speed, so a 30-knot blow gives close to 0.7 knots. Ekman transport deflects the mean flow of the wind-driven layer about 90 degrees, to the right in the northern hemisphere, with the surface layer itself deflected some 20 to 45 degrees. Over long ocean legs this adds meaningfully to the tidal and current allowance in the plan.
Read definition →The deck winch used to raise chain and anchor
Manual, electric or hydraulic, with a gypsy machined for one specific chain size and pitch, and usually a warping drum for rope. Electric units draw very high current, so the engine should run while operating them. The gypsy and its clutch are not intended to hold anchor loads at rest, which is the job of a chain stopper or snubber. Many have a chain counter to display veered length.
Read definition →The side opposite the mainsail, used to define your tack
For the purposes of the sailing vessel rule, the windward side is the side opposite that on which the mainsail is carried, or in a square-rigged vessel the side opposite that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried. This definition matters when running dead downwind, where apparent wind direction is ambiguous: a boat with the boom out to port is on starboard tack regardless of the burgee. Gybing therefore changes right of way instantly.
Sailing reference
Clear explanations of the language used in navigation, pilotage, weather, safety and life under sail.