If you already know which side is port and which side is starboard, your new challenge is learning your windward from your leeward.

What is this "windward" and "leeward" thing? And why do you have to know it, you ask? Well, windward and leeward are also terms that refer to different sides of the sailboat, in relation to the prevailing wind. And if you plan on becoming a proper sailor, these terms will be important, because the relative wind direction influences the direction you can sail.

The relative direction of the wind gives your boat the right of way (in some cases), or gives another sailboat certain privilages, especially in a sailboat race. It is important to know your windward from your leeward to comply with the racing rules and avoid being penalised for causing havoc in a sailing race.

So, stated simply, windward and leeward can be defined as follows:

• Windward refers to the side of the boat closest to the direction from where the wind is blowing.
• Leeward refers to the side of the boat farthest away from the prevailing wind.

That's easy enough, I hear you say: windward toward the wind, leeward away from the wind. So what's the big deal?!

The problem is that the windward and leeward side of a boat can be rather hard to identify in some cases. For example, if a sailboat is sailing a downwind course, the wind might be directly behind the boat. So, where is windward and leeward now?!

Since it can be difficult to identify from which side the wind is coming if a sailboat is sailing downwind, or nearly downwind, the side the mainsail boom is carried is the "leeward" side of the sailboat. The "windward" side is opposite to the side on which the boom is carried.

Windward and leeward are important sailing concepts, but telling the difference between the two is not exactly brain surgery. After reading this explanation of the difference between windward and leeward, you will be able to sail responsibly and stick to the racing rules and the sailing "rules of the road".

Note:

Windward and leeward can also be used to describe the relation of things (other than sailboats) to the wind. For example, you might hear someone talking about the "leeward side of a harbour wall", the "windward side of a bay", etc.