Question: How will a vessel that is not moored or anchored lie to the wind?

(Posted by: on 2010-05-12 05:53:00)

Posted by: Girly Brains on 2010-05-12, 06:32:07

Hard aground on the nearest lee shore. And if there is no shore, then it will be a tussle betwixt wind and current. So any which-way from one moment to the next, to be brutal. -|--)

Posted by: dwayne f on 2010-05-12, 05:58:31

When anchored, your boat will always go the direction that the wind is blowing. So if your bow anchor is secure and the wind is blowing out of the north your boat will go towards the south. Many boaters keep a stern anchor for this reason.

Posted by: yankee_sailor on 2010-05-12, 06:20:44

You mean a boat drifting with engines off or sails down? Depends on the underwater hull shape, but in most cases it will lie ( drift ) at 90 degrees to the wind.....if there is a large superstructure aft that will tend to make the ship point a little more into the wind, so say 70 degrees.....

Posted by: seattlesailor2000 on 2010-05-12, 06:33:35

Since the boat is not moored or anchored, the force of the wind will push the boat through the water down wind (moving in the same direction of the wind). many factors will influence how the ship lies or moves, including hull shape, boat type (sail vs power), displacement, etc. the speed of the wind is also a factor. as example light wind would have little effect on large commercial ships, but could cause movement in smaller light displacement boats with upper structures that cause windage. (cabins, masts & rigging etc). if the smaller boat has a shallow hull with out a keel, the wind could be blowing it sideways (down wind) sailboats (with sails furled) could be pushed across the wind or downwind depending on rudder placement or control. any current would also be a factor in how the vessel might move. hope this helps

Posted by: John M on 2010-05-12, 09:32:56

I believe it will point the apex of the curve of the portion of the hull that is out of the water into the wind, but I'm not positive. And that only works for a hull with a fairly simple shape. You are basically going to be oriented such that the wind finds equal resistance on either side of the point most into the wind. Or conversely, the boat will balance itself with 1/ 2 the exposed surface area of the boat to the right, and 1/ 2 the exposed (windward) surface area to the left of whatever point is closest to the direction of the wind when it reaches a stable orientation. If there is a complex shape it may not reach a stable orientation and continually re-orient itself.

Posted by: Capt. John on 2010-05-12, 16:42:54

I'm telling you guys... You need to pay much more attention to Girly Brains... She is right on... not withstanding the shape of the hull below water, or the freeboard and cabin above water... She is correct... the winds and the current will have control of that vessel - and if there is very much of either, that vessel will be turned every which way but loose.

Posted by: jtexas on 2010-05-12, 18:36:57

Depends. My boat drifts stern to the wind, because I have more freeboard toward the bow. I can make it drift at a 90º angle to the wind by turning the outboard hard to port or starboard, using the skeg as a rudder.