WINDSHIFTS - land & shoreline effects

[RichH]

WINDSHIFTS - land/shoreline effects

Shoreline effects
When the wind is moving across a shoreline onto a body of water, it usually tends to cross that boundary by becoming more or less *perpendicular to the shore* as it 'enters' the water. So if you are beating to windward close to a shoreline, sailing close as possible to the WINDWARD shore will usually give you a 'lift' (..... usually a 'header' on the leeward shore).

Sailing/beating towards a 'point of land'-
Always sail 'towards' a point of land until you have a header caused by the flow 'squeezing' around the point of land, then immediately tack over and continue on that tack until you get into 'another' header (where the wind 'begins' to 'squeeze up' around the point), then immediately tack over again towards the shoreline (flow coming perpendicularly FROM the shore) - 3 tacks & 3 lifts all in a row .... all caused by the wind 'squeezing around' a headland or 'point of land'.

Very 'deadly' when sailing on lakes and narrow bays.

 

[jimmyb]

Rich,
thanks for your last 3 posts. All makes good sense and it is nice to have some of the finer points clarified and explained in simpler terms for us layman. To much tech talk and im dozing off, but your posts are always right to the point and above all useful on the water.

God Bless, jimmyb

 

[Gudenuph]

Anyone. To what extent do you use the meterological and oceanographic findings and suggestions of Frank Bethwaite (High Performance Sailing, Bethwaite, International Marine, 1993). I've read these sections several times and have managed remember about 1/10 of the content. Heavy but fascinating reading. I've noted however, what I think are typo and north/south hemisphere errors(?) that I'd be happy to discuss with anyone interested. IMHO this is one of the best and most comprehensive treatments of the subject I've ever seen.
Geohan