Now that you are aware of the difference between Windward vs. To create resistance to the forces transferred via the sails, the hull, keel, and rudder of a sailing craft, the wheels of a land sailing vessel, or the skate runners of an iceboat have to oppose those forces. Sails on the point of sail that are facing toward the wind cannot provide propulsion to a conventional sailing vessel. To the degree that genuine wind direction can be felt from a fixed location, the route with regard to the actual wind direction is called a point of sail. To have an efficient flow of wind power, the sails are placed at an angle to the apparent wind, which is the wind felt by a moving ship. A keel is positioned beneath the boat and opposes the sideways motion, minimizing the distance the boat has to turn when it’s being pushed along.Īs sails generate power from the wind, they both generate lift and push. With a push from windward and lift from leeward added, the force of the wind is no longer pointed directly ahead but angled to a degree. Like a flag, they’ll just flap uselessly in the wind. The sails will not work if there isn’t enough wind on the windward side to fill the sail. To keep the sail round and full, the wind should constantly touch the windward side. Without this certain curved sail shape, the lift cannot occur. Leeward winds follow this curve, sticking to it according to physics and then increasing speed to keep pace with the windward sibling.īecause of that, there is a reduction in pressure, and therefore, there is a suction effect that pulls the boat leeward. Like the wings of the aircraft, sails create changes in air pressure which pull the boat forward.įor instance, when the boom is positioned roughly 45 degrees to the wind, wind separates at the mast, dividing equally the leeward and windward sides of the sail.Īs a result, the wind blows opposite the windward side, causing the sail to fill and creating a curving wing. Lift, on the other hand, is a bit more challenging to explain. This means that the wind is pushing the sail in the same direction. The resulting curvature provides two power types with a rounded sail – push from the wind to the windward side of the sail and lift from the wind rushing on the leeward side. Ī very slight curve has been applied to the sail, which allows it to billow ever so slightly. The sail’s frontmost edge links with the mast, while the bottom edge travels horizontally along the boom. Sailing science begins with the sail’s rounded, triangular shape. Therefore, these terms will most likely come up often. Sailboats experience constant wind shifts across, not from behind or ahead. Let’s use the example of a boat to clarify: Windward is the side the wind hits first, while “to leeward” is the opposite side. Leeward: What’s The Difference?įirst and foremost, you should know the difference between the terms windward and leeward, as in “you’re windward if you’re on the leeward side of the boat.”Ī windward island is closer to the wind on a sailing boat, while a leeward island is further away from the wind. The islands’ more sheltered leeward shores are home to famous beaches like Oahu’s Waikiki and Maui’s Wailea. Generally, windward locations are lush and verdant. įor instance, the Hawaiian Islands typically have damp windward sides and dry leeward sides due to the Pacific Ocean’s northeasterly trade winds. This disparity is referred to by meteorologists as the orographic effect.

Hence, the windward side of an island is wetter and more verdant than the leeward side, which is dryer. The air heats and dries as it travels to the other half of the island. Once the moist air reaches the island’s landmass, it ascends the island’s hills and mountains, forming condensation, clouds, and precipitation. The windward side of an island confronts the predominant trade winds, whereas the leeward side faces away from the wind, protected from it by hills and mountains.Īs the trade winds travel across the ocean, they gather moisture from the surrounding sea. In this article, you’ll understand the difference between windward and leeward, what a sail shape is, what push and lift mean, and what the keel is. As you learn new concepts as a sailor, you’ll be able to sail quicker and more safely in any situation. Sailing a boat is relatively easy if you have a good understanding of sailing theory. The ability to understand how sails work will undoubtedly add up to your most valuable skills.

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