Lee Bow Current

(Lee bow current is when the current is pushing the boat from the down wind (lee) side of the boat ) Understanding what the currents are doing on the Bay and using them to your advantage can make a big difference in your performance around the racecourse. On a flood tide the current is coming in and on an ebb tide the current is going out as we have all learned in Basic Sailing. Knowing the strength of the current at any given time will help you understand the currents effect on the movement of the boat across the bottom and ultimately to our destination. When racing, we want to use the currents to our advantage when possible. This includes staying in the stronger current if it moves us faster to our destination and staying out of it if it slows us down or takes us away from our destination. As a rule the currents are generally stronger where the water is deeper. Knowing the current and its effect will influence your decision on when to tack or jibe onto a lay-line to the mark. When sailing toward a weather mark - lee bow current will generally push the boat to windward towards the mark. Taking advantage of this may allow you to tack early and use the current to lift you towards the mark thereby sailing a shorter distance. When approaching and rounding a windward mark, lee bow current will help to keep the boat from hitting the mark as the current will be pushing you away from it. Knowing this may help you keep an inside position as you round the mark. When sailing off the wind and toward a leeward mark, lee bow current will be pushing you either toward or away from the mark. This may influence the heading you choose to the mark compensating for the pushing effect of the current. When approaching and rounding the mark make sure you have plenty of room between you and the mark so as not to get pushed into it. Knowing the tides and currents are an important aspect of sailing on the Bay. Understanding them and using them to your advantage will help you in a big way. Please feel free to post any questions in the comments.

Smooth Sailing.

Rich

Spinnaker Sailing