The wind you feel on your face while sailing is a combination of the true wind that’s blowing across the water and the wind created by the boat’s forward motion. The combination of these two winds is called the apparent wind. This is the wind you see indicated by the masthead fly and the telltales on the shrouds, and to which you adjust your sails.
True Wind
True Wind.
If your boat was stationary on the water, the only wind you would feel would be the true wind.
Wind Created by Boat’s Motion.
Like riding a bicycle or a car, your movement creates a breeze that comes from directly in front.
True Wind
Apparent Wind. The combination of true wind and wind created by the boat’s motion is the ap- parent wind.
