Lee Shore???

[macd]

So my confusion arises from the incorrect use of 'lee' in 'lee shore'. The shore that is on the lee side of a vessel should be called the 'leeward shore'.

I think not. Given that the phrase describes the viewpoint from the boat in question, the shore is to the lee. "Leeward" would also be accurate, but that doesn't mean that "to the lee" is not. And we're all familiar with the habitual shortening of maritime expressions...foc'sle, bosun, halyard, etc. Even a third party on land, viewing a vessel at risk off a lee shore, would describe it as exactly that (or might if he knew a few nautical terms). The same person lying on a deckchair on the same shore with no troubled vessel in sight would probably call it something else. (Sandy sandwiches, perhaps.)

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned the opposite of a lee shore, which is a weather shore...the shore where the weather's coming from. Given the expression "to weather" (as a noun, not a verb), this also seems consistent within the slightly arcane logic of expressions nautical. And, yes, it does sound slightly perverse that we seek out weather shores under which to anchor, which sort of brings us back to your first post...

 

[Jaguar 25]

Chambers dictionary gives the definitions as either the sheltered side of something or the side to which the wind is blowing. That is good enough for me and every other sailor that I have ever met.[/QUOTE]

The lee side of any boat is the side sheltered from the wind. So agreed.

The side to which the wind is blowing (onto the boat) is the windward side.

The shore onto which the wind is tending to blow the boat towards is the leeward shore not the lee shore.

 

[LittleSister]

The side to which the wind is blowing (onto the boat) is the windward side.

No. The side to which the wind is blowing is the lee side. It is blowing from the weather side to the lee side.

 

[macd]

Chambers dictionary gives the definitions as either the sheltered side of something or the side to which the wind is blowing. That is good enough for me and every other sailor that I have ever met.

The shore onto which the wind is tending to blow the boat towards is the leeward shore not the lee shore.

Glad you've sorted that out. Now looking forward to your thread on marine toilets.

More seriously, I find it staggering that you enlist Chambers in support of your argument, yet quite fail to mention that it defines "lee shore" as: "a shore lying off a ship's leeward side and constituting a severe danger in storm".

 

[TLouth7]

The lee side of any boat is the side sheltered from the wind. So agreed.

Indeed, that side is in the lee of (sheltered by) the boat.

A lee shore is also in the lee of the boat, and so the logic is consistent. The fact that most of our yachts cannot provide much useful shelter to an entire shore is irrelevant.

From the point of view of a yacht (and we are sailors here) the lee shore and lee side of the boat are both to leeward. The weather shore and weather side of the boat are both to weather.

 

[RichardS]

The side to which the wind is blowing (onto the boat) is the windward side.

No. The side to which the wind is blowing is the lee side. It is blowing from the weather side to the lee side.

I just can't figure that I'm afraid, Little Sister.

When I'm on my boat and someone asks which is the windward side, I would always point to the side onto which the wind is blowing.

Richard

 

[Humblebee]

"A west wind comes from the west: a west current flows to the west.

Explain that"
Nah... Not telling.

Reverting to this point for a moment, I always understood it was because most of us face the wind to determine where it is blowing from - wind on both cheeks gives you the direction. For a current, think Pooh Sticks. Drop a stick in the water and see which way it goes.
That's how I remember it at any rate.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I thought that a current flowing towards the west was known as a westerly current.

Reverting to this point for a moment, I always understood it was because most of us face the wind to determine where it is blowing from - wind on both cheeks gives you the direction. For a current, think Pooh Sticks. Drop a stick in the water and see which way it goes.
That's how I remember it at any rate.

 

[lw395]

I just can't figure that I'm afraid, Little Sister.

When I'm on my boat and someone asks which is the windward side, I would always point to the side onto which the wind is blowing.

Richard

and if you're heading dead downwind??

 

[RichardS]

and if you're heading dead downwind??

Sometimes I think I'm wasted on this forum.

Richard

 

[LittleSister]

You can lead a horse to water . . .

 

[RichardS]

You can lead a horse to water . . .

.... but only if the horse is on the side of the boat onto which the wind is blowing i.e. the lee side. :encouragement:

Richard

 

[Topcat47]

Horay, we're all daft!

If you're sitting in the cockpit, the side of the boat from which the wind is blowing is the windward (weather) side. This is true of the stern as well as the sides. I would suppose it's equally true the the wind is dead ahead, but you won't actually be sailing, then. You could be at anchor though.

It therefore follows that the shore towards which the wind is blowing would be the Lee shore, relative to the vessel. It represents a hazard simple because it is more difficult to work the vessel away from the shore. If the wind is blowing offshore, it's relatively safe. Boats float on water, not on land.

 

[RichardS]

Horay, we're all daft!

Not quite all of us .... although it definitely started to go tits-up a couple of days ago.

Richard

 

[johnalison]

I just can't figure that I'm afraid, Little Sister.

When I'm on my boat and someone asks which is the windward side, I would always point to the side onto which the wind is blowing.

Richard

I have only just seen this and I think the answer to Littlesister's curious interpretation becomes clear if you imagine the boat as an open boat and the wind thus blowing across the boat from the weather to the lee side.

 

[Habebty]

Yebbut, if you have the right anchor, the lee shore will be off your stern.
If you have the wrong anchor, the lee shore will be in your saloon.

Sorry- bored having just been turfed off a train at Reading

 

[RichardS]

I have only just seen this and I think the answer to Littlesister's curious interpretation becomes clear if you imagine the boat as an open boat and the wind thus blowing across the boat from the weather to the lee side.

Curious is rather an understatement.

If someone says that the windward side of a boat is the side onto which the wind is blowing I am curious as to how anyone can disagree, whatever kind of boat it is.

Richard