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A polar diagram, or polar plot, is a graph that shows a sailboat's potential speed over a range of wind speeds and relative wind angles. [1] It normally consists of the right side of a line chart with the radius representing the yacht speed and the angle representing the wind direction blowing from top to bottom. Several lines are normally ...
Leeward: side or direction away from the wind (opposite of "windward"). [17] On deck: to an outside or muster deck (as "all hands on deck"). [18] On board: on, onto, or within the ship [19] Onboard: somewhere on or in the ship. [20] Outboard: attached outside the ship. [21] Port: the left side of the ship, when facing forward (opposite of ...
Since a sailing ship is usually pushed by winds and currents, its captain must find a route where the wind will probably blow in the right direction. Tacking, i.e. using contrary wind to pull (sic) the sails, was always possible but wasted time because of the zigzagging required, and significantly delayed long voyages. The early European ...
Ocean journeys by sailing ship can take many months, [19] and a common hazard is becoming becalmed because of lack of wind, [20] or being blown off course by severe storms or winds that do not allow progress in the desired direction. [21] A severe storm could lead to shipwreck, and the loss of all hands. [22]
This point of sail lets the sailing craft travel upwind, diagonally to the wind direction. [4] The smaller the angle between the direction of the true wind and the course of the sailing craft, the higher the craft is said to point. A craft that can point higher or sail faster upwind is said to be more weatherly. [11]
Windward is upwind from the point of reference, i.e., towards the direction from which the wind is coming; leeward is downwind from the point of reference, i.e., along the direction towards which the wind is going. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its "lee side".
The oldest sailing directions, dating back to the middle ages, descended directly from the Greek and Roman periplii: in classical times, in the absence of real nautical charts, navigation was carried out using books that described the coast, not necessarily intended for navigation, but more often consisting of reports of previous voyages, or celebrations of the deeds of leaders or rulers.
Nautical publications is a technical term used in maritime circles describing a set of publications, either published by national governments or by commercial and professional organisations, for use in safe navigation of ships, boats, and similar vessels.