Sailing Tips for Sailing: Three Apparent Wind Indicators to Help You Sail Better

Did you know that the indicators along the luff of your Genoa sailing sailboat are just one of the places where apparent wind indicators will help you sail better? Follow these three easy tips to boost your sailing performance for faster passages, or blow away the competition on race night!

1. Install Luff Telltales on your headsails

Keep the wind flowing smoothly and without turbulence through your jib genoa. These sails receive the wind first, so it is very important to trim them correctly. Luff indicators help you do this. Your sailboat may have installed them when the sail was built. Or add yours in a jiffy with these easy steps:

* Measure the luff of your headsail. Divide this length by 4.
* Start at the head or tack. Mark the luff of the sail with your measurement.
* Thread a sailboat needle with 12″ of angora wool*.
* Pierce the needle through your markings. Center the yarn 6″ on each side.
* Make a simple knot on each side near the surface of the sail.

Keep the indicators on either side of your headsail in a “V” shape. This indicates smooth airflow on each side of your genoa or jib.

two. Tie rigging flags to shrouds and stay

Use the cover and fixed indicators to get instant apparent wind indicators at a glance. They are easier for the person at the helm of the sailboat or at the helm to see than the headsail luff indicators. Cut one 9″ and two 7″ pieces of yarn.

Tie the 9″ line to your backstay and the two 7″ pieces to each top shroud. Install them at least 6 feet from the deck. Your shroud and stay indicators will be more accurate in the less turbulent air high on deck.

3. Use a stop fly for wind direction and speed

Install a manual or electronic butt fly on top of your butt. These gauges give accurate wind direction and speed high above the water. Wind direction and speed high above the sea surface are quite different from those closer to the surface. The strongest winds are not slowed by land-sea friction like the winds closer to the surface.

You can see this if you look at any sailboat from the stern. Notice how the mainsail and headsail tend to spread out, or “skew,” near the top. They do this to align with the different wind direction high up on the water. So a header flag will be accurate, but you’ll also need to use one or more of the other flags described above. Combine indicators to adjust your candles for maximum performance.

Choose one or more of these apparent wind gauges for better power, speed and performance. They will help you “see the wind” for sailing or racing, wherever in the world you choose to sail!