Should I bother with wind instruments?

[dulcibella]

Tom Cunliffe once said that he didn't have masthead wind because it demoralises the crew. I think that there's something in that. A gust of 35kt apparent gets inexperienced crew over-excited and talking about a gale when a look at the sea-state would produce a more realistic and soothing evaluation of 5-6 gusting 7.

 

[Elissaar]

If budget is an issue - why not acquire a hand held anenometer thingy - when I was learning to sail as a nipper we had just that and no fancy wind meter up the mast, we used wind sense and sea state as a guide - its all changed now of course, and I have a fancy gizmo at the mast head because I like to know! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Simon <span style="color:blue"> </span>