explaining sailing terms

[ricccccc]

If there is any sea running, heave-to before going overboard. Once the boat is hove-to, it will create a slick to weather and a lee downwind, making it easier to work and climb back aboard. Can someone explain what slick to weather,and a lee downwind is. Thanks

[Sailormon6]

The weather side of the boat is the side that is facing the wind. The lee side of the boat is the side away from the wind.

When the writer says there will be a slick to weather, he means that there will be an area near the weather side of the boat that will be calmer than the rest of the sea. The mere presence of the boat''s hull will have the effect of calming the wave action just to windward of the boat.

When he says it will create a lee downwind, he means that the boat''s hull will block the wind, and anything that is in the water on the lee side of the boat will be sheltered from the wind.

Apparently, the writer is suggesting that, if you have to go over the side to work on the boat for some reason while you''re at sea, you should heave-to, because, in that attitude, the boat will shield you, to a certain extent, from the wind and the waves.