wind sense

Stryker72 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

Ok today was day 4 of sailing and by far my best day yet. I was able to cruise the length of the lake and beat back. But what I am realizing is that I don't have any wind sense. The direction the wind appears to be coming from doesn't make sense with my sails. Also I am finding that I can not make a run.

I know that it will come to me eventually but I am open to any pointers you may have. I had some tell tales up on my shrouds but they weren't much help. I am going to redo them tomorrow to make them a little more sensitive.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

What did you make the telltales out of. Cassette tape is good. Thin yarn also works well.

nolatom · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

Good telltales will help, but making "wind sense" become second-nature will come with more experience. After a while, the sensation of the wind on you face, or side or back of your neck will become more heightened. So don't worry, you're new at this and it will come in time as you keep at it.

Sailing downwind I think is less "intuitive" than close-hauled or reaching. You lack the feeling of the wind in your face, your own speed is now subtracted from the actual wind speed rather than added to it, so the "apparent" wind speed is less and things feel more "dead". Most people feel a little more agile on a broad reach anyway, you feel the wind coming across the boat a little more, and you're going faster. Racers often do this, then jibe onto the opposite broad reach, to keep up more speed in moderate air.

Try some broad reaching, then bear off onto a run occasionally, and you'll get the feel of it better. If you have trouble with jibes initially, remember you can always take the "long way around", by coming up into the wind, tacking, then bearing off to a broad reach on the new tack. I call this the "chicken jibe", and have done it often in heavy air.

This may be more than you asked about, but best of luck.

By the way, did that lee helm even out when you got more breeze?

Stryker72 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

Saildog,
I made the telltales out of ribbon. I have just taped them onto a straw that will allow them to swivel around the shroud. I will test that out tomorrow. I may have to look for a cassette tape.

Nolatom,

I set the rake a little more aft (actually all the way I can) and it is better but still has a little lee helm. I am sitting as far back as I can so there isn't much more I can do there. I did notice that while on the starboard tack while close hauled it went away so maybe it is just the light airs we have had lately.

Thanks for the info!

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

As you get more experience, your other senses will help you figure things out as well. On my boat, I can sometimes tell when she's not trimmed properly by the sound of the sails and the sound of the water passing the hulls.

On some boats, tell-tales are far more important than others. On my boat I have a good dodger and it is often difficult to tell which direction the wind is actually coming from in the cockpit, because the dodger interferes with the wind flow.

Stryker72 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

what's a dodger?

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

This is a dodger:

The brown canvas with windows is a dodger.

USCGRET1990 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stryker72

Ok today was day 4 of sailing and by far my best day yet. I was able to cruise the length of the lake and beat back. But what I am realizing is that I don't have any wind sense. The direction the wind appears to be coming from doesn't make sense with my sails. Also I am finding that I can not make a run.

I know that it will come to me eventually but I am open to any pointers you may have. I had some tell tales up on my shrouds but they weren't much help. I am going to redo them tomorrow to make them a little more sensitive.

You may want to consider a wind vane indicator on top of your mast.
It helps to know exactly where the wind is coming from.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by USCGRET1990

You may want to consider a wind vane indicator on top of your mast.
It helps to know exactly where the wind is coming from.

USCGRET-

This is what he is sailing:

I think shroud and stay mounted tell-tales would be fine.

USCGRET1990 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007

ummmm...I knew that...I still think it would work. At least he wouldn't have to climb the mast to install it!