Instruments set to True or Apparent wind?
- Thread starter daverebbettes
- Start date
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
Depends if you are interested in what drives / stops your boat, or giving a wind statement for some one else.
CCJ
Well-Known Member
W Dir always apparent for me
RichardS
N/A
As it's only a single button press to change from one to the other, I select whichever is most useful to me at any given point in time. 
Richard
Richard
prv
Well-Known Member
I normally want the apparent direction (because that's what I sail to) but the true speed (because I can feel apparent speed directly, and in any case sail by its effect on the boat rather than a number). But the classic Raymarine instruments don't offer this option, both have to change at once.
Pete
Pete
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Truth
Poey50
Well-Known Member
Luff and leach telltales and masthead indicator all give apparent wind information so I like my wind instrument to give me the less intuitive extra information which is true wind but speed more important than direction. I've only had wind instruments for two seasons so I also like the novelty of true wind data.
Keeping an eye on true wind speed is particularly a help downwind on spinnaker to avoid getting caught out.
Keeping an eye on true wind speed is particularly a help downwind on spinnaker to avoid getting caught out.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
True wind in the normal sense of "relative to the earth" or true wind in that odd "relative to the tide" sense which a few racers seem to use because B&G got confused about it twenty years ago?
neil1967
Well-Known Member
Normally apparent, but occasionally flick to True if going deep downwind to ensure I'm not being lulled into a false sense of security..........
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
I tend to use apparent when going to windward, especially when using the autopilot in wind vane mode, and true when going down wind, when apparent can give big changes in course as the boat accelerates in a gust.
I'm sailing a fairly high performance 46ft boat single handed, so I use the autopilot in wind vane mode most of the time, when sailing.
I'm sailing a fairly high performance 46ft boat single handed, so I use the autopilot in wind vane mode most of the time, when sailing.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I simply use Apparent when sailing and True when not. For windward work, the Apparent is necessary anyway and when sailing free it helps because this is the wind affecting the sails. When running, I also prefer it because the response is slightly quicker than when recording True, and I need to know instantly if I am in danger of a gybe.
When motor-sailing I have True, because it gives a better guide as to whether I should reef or resume sailing. When manoeuvring under power, True wind helps me predict how the boat will behave when I need to proceed slowly.
When motor-sailing I have True, because it gives a better guide as to whether I should reef or resume sailing. When manoeuvring under power, True wind helps me predict how the boat will behave when I need to proceed slowly.
jac
Well-Known Member
Have never used instruments to sail the boat, they just don;t respond enough - tell tails and "the feel" should be enough. ofc - is sailing use AP in wind mode then apparent is the only option.
Speed is most use in true although as a Solent based sailor i accept that true will be wrong by a couple of knots. Assuming though that the wind is basically blowing SW then if going up / down the western solent i mentally add or subtract the tide wind as appropriate if i'm concerned about what the wind will be if i turn round.
Speed is most use in true although as a Solent based sailor i accept that true will be wrong by a couple of knots. Assuming though that the wind is basically blowing SW then if going up / down the western solent i mentally add or subtract the tide wind as appropriate if i'm concerned about what the wind will be if i turn round.
alan_d
Well-Known Member
I have tacktick instruments and display apparent wind on the analogue screen (with the pointer) and true wind speed and boat speed on the digital display, for the reasons stated above. The age and condition of my cervical vertebrae make watching the masthead wind-indicator uncomfortable.
Robin
Well-Known Member
Last UK boat I had Apparent on one instrument head set in a console over the mainhatch and true (plus beaufort even) displayed on a multi repeater in another location. On our USA sailboat we had similar but the displays were on the cockpit plotter/MFD as well as individual instruments plus the autopilot repeater display so easy enough to mix and match. ..
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johnalison
Well-Known Member
I hadn't realised that this topic is duplicated on Scuttlebutt. I don't entirely agree that instruments aren't sensitive enough, though I do find a slight delay when they are set to true. On the other hand, unlike many people, I don't find myself sailing to the apparent wind when beating but only refer to it as a general guide, preferring to watch the sails and feel the wind.
John 32i
Well-Known Member
RYA say 'apparent' wind if sailing upwind and 'truewind' if sailing downwind IIRC
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Buy the right instruments and you get true and apparent wind speeds and directions on the same screen.
In this photo true wind direction as shown by the red arrow is 83 degrees, apparent wind angle shown by the blue arrow is 53 degrees. True wind speed 12.2 knots, apparent wind speed 15.1 knots. Boat speed on the other instrument 7.5 knots, not too bad for a 19 year old cruising yacht.
In this photo true wind direction as shown by the red arrow is 83 degrees, apparent wind angle shown by the blue arrow is 53 degrees. True wind speed 12.2 knots, apparent wind speed 15.1 knots. Boat speed on the other instrument 7.5 knots, not too bad for a 19 year old cruising yacht.