Sailing Term Spotlight: Leeward

 

Sailing Term Spotlight: Leeward

In sailing, the term leeward (pronounced loo-erd) describes the side of the boat that is sheltered from the wind — the opposite of windward, which faces into it. Understanding this concept is essential for everything from balancing the boat to knowing who has right of way during a race.

What “Leeward” Means

When the wind blows across your boat, the leeward side is the one the wind passes over and away from. It’s where the sails fill and where you’ll feel less breeze on your face. In contrast, the windward side faces into the wind.

On most dinghies and keelboats, the sails are set on the leeward side, catching the airflow and generating lift to drive the boat forward.

Why It Matters

• Balance: Crew often hike out to the windward side to counteract the heeling caused by wind pressure on the leeward side.

• Rules of the Road: In racing, the leeward boat usually has right of way when overlapped with a windward boat.

• Tactics: Knowing which side is leeward helps you anticipate gusts, manoeuvre efficiently, and avoid collisions.

Visualising Leeward

Imagine standing in your boat with the wind coming over your left shoulder. The right-hand side (starboard) would be leeward. If the wind shifts, so does the leeward side — it always depends on wind direction, not the boat’s layout.

The Takeaway

Leeward is one of sailing’s simplest but most important terms. It defines how the boat moves, how you balance it, and how you interact with other sailors on the water. Once you understand leeward, you’ve grasped one of the key building blocks of sailing knowledge.

More info on this and other sailing Terms at https://pmrsailing.uk/sailing-lessons/Sailing-Terms.html