How to change the weather

Sometimes it pays accept defeat and go with the flow, as Clive Loughlin reveals…

It generally takes only a few seconds to change the weather, and it is the quickest and easiest way to boost crew morale.

For a rough example, let’s say the wind is Force 5/20kts (a fresh breeze), wave height may be 2m and wavelength 50m. The wave will travel at 20kts and will go past a fixed point every six seconds.

If the boat is on a beat doing 6kts through the water, the apparent wind will be 24kts (middle of a Force 6) and waves will be coming at you every five seconds and it will be a pretty rough ride with the bow slamming into the waves and spray testing your wet weather gear. Some crew will be relishing the conditions, others will be turning green and considering the depressingly slow progress towards sanctuary and hot shower.

Turn around and go with the wind on a run or broad reach. The boat speed will jump to 8kts and the apparent wind speed will drop to 12kts (lower end of an Force 4). The waves will be overtaking you about every 10 seconds, the spray will have gone and the crew will be stripping down to T-shirts and Oakley’s.

Simply by turning around the weather is changed from a Force 6 to a Force 4, and the boat’s motion will have been transformed from a wet rollercoaster to a gentle roll.

The tidal stream adds an extra dimension to the decision process. If wind and tidal stream are heading in the same direction (wind with tide) then the benefits for turning around are further increased.

Sadly you cannot spend your sailing career always going downwind; but next time you find yourself pounding slowly to windward, take time out to decide if it is really necessary. We mainly sail for pleasure after all.