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Day Skipper - Part 6
- Powerboaters and wind
Leeway is the effect the track of the wind has on your boat. It has always
been an accepted problem for the sailing man: he relies on the wind to
push him along, but unless it is directly astern, it has a tendency to
push him sideways as well as forward.
Many powerboaters believe that leeway is not a problem for them. However,
it can be a major difficulty, particularly for those with lightweight
or high-sided craft and especially when travelling slowly.
Someone once told me that when manoeuvring a powerboat the effect of
20 knots of wind equates to that of one knot of tide, and I think they
weren't far wrong.
There is no easy formula for calculating the amount to allow for leeway
in a powerboat because there are too many variables. However, be aware
that it is a potential problem, and only personal experience will help
you determine how much you need to take it into consideration.
Helpful hints
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Leeway can affect powerboats as much as sailing boats in certain
conditions. |
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