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Sailing > Winds/Currents/Tides > Flashcards

Winds/Currents/Tides Flashcards

1
Q

If you are sailing “Off” the wind, you are on a ________, ________, or ________

A

Beam reach

Broad reach

Running

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2
Q

Regarding weather reports, what does a “gale warning” mean

A

Winds speeds:

34-47 knots (39-54 mph)

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3
Q

Waves are the product of ________

A

Wind (in many cases)

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4
Q

What happens to apparent wind in a “puff”

A

Apparent wind increases in strength and shifts toward the stern

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5
Q

What does “Running” mean

A

Sailing with wind directly behind you

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6
Q

What does “Beam Reach” mean

A

The wind is at a right angle to the boat

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7
Q

Up is short for ________

“Bring her up” means ________

A

Upwind

Turn toward the wind

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8
Q

What is an anemmeter

A

An instrument for measuring wind speed

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9
Q

Do we sail to true wind or apparent wind

A

Apparent wind

-The wind we feel on our face is the same wind the sails feel, thats what you would trim the sails for

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10
Q

What is a “Neap Tide”

When do neap tides occur

A

Weak tides - small differences between the highs and lows

Twice a month, 7 days after a “spring tide”, and when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other

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11
Q

What does “Broad Reach” mean

A

Wind blowing slightly in a leeward/downwind direction

or

Sailing between a “Beam Reach” and “Running”

or

Wind blowing between beam and stern

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12
Q

What does “MHW” mean on charts

A

Mean High Water

The average high water level

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13
Q

Regarding weather reports, what does a “small craft advisory” mean

A

Wind speeds:

20-33 knots (24-38 mph)

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14
Q

How many tides occur in the Gulf of Mexico

A

Once a day (diurnal)

-Only one high and one low per day

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15
Q

What does “leeward” mean

A

Anything downwind

or

The side of the boat furthest from the wind

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16
Q

What is the speed of a current called

A

Drift

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17
Q

Sailing “Off” the wind means ________

A

Your course is in a leeward direction (sailing downwind)

18
Q

What is a “Spring Tide”

When do spring tides occur

A

Strong tides - large difference between the highs and lows (about 20% more than average)

Twice a month when the moon, sun, and earth are in alignment

19
Q

What is a “masthead fly”

A

A wind indicator at the top of the mast

20
Q

Sailing “On” the wind means ________

A

Your course is in a windward direction (sailing upwind)

21
Q

When sailing, current can be determined by

A

Watching the water move around a fixed object

22
Q

Regarding weather reports, what does a “storm warning” mean

A

Winds speeds:

48-63 knots (55-72 mph)

23
Q

What are “incoming” and “outgoing“ tides called

A

Incoming - Flood

Outgoing - Ebb

24
Q

How many minutes are there between tides

Are there any outside factors affecting these times

A

6 hours and 12 minutes

Yes; local winds and weather

25
Q

Where do you place “telltales” to determine wind direction

A

On the shrouds

26
Q

Over most of the world, tides usually happen how many times a day

A

Semidiurnal (twice a day)

-two equal highs and lows

27
Q

What is the easiest and fastest point of sail

A

Beam Reach

28
Q

What is the foundation of wind patterns

A

Differences in temperature between the equator and the poles
-Warm air rising is replaced by colder air

There is also

  • Earths eastward rotation
  • Areas of high and low pressures
  • Land-masses
  • Land and sea breezes
29
Q

If you are sailing “On” the wind, you are either ________ or ________

A

Close hauled

or

Close reach

30
Q

What does “MLLW” mean on charts

A

Mean Lower Low Water

The average height of the lowest low tides

*This is the water depth displayed on charts

31
Q

How do the physics of sailing change while “Running”

A

Sails lose aerodynamic lift and act as wind catchers to push the boat

32
Q

Down is short for ________

“Bring her down” means ________

A

Downwind

Turn away from the wind

33
Q

Waves can be manipulated by outside forces. Name some examples

A
  • Currents from rivers
  • Narrow passages
  • Points of land
  • Tides running against the waves
  • Shallow underwater ledges
34
Q

What does “Close Hauled” mean

A

Sailing as close to the wind as possible

35
Q

What does “Close Reach” mean

A

Wind blowing slightly in a windward/upwind direction

or

Sailing between “Close Hauled” and “Beam Reach”

or

Wind blowing between beam and bow

36
Q

What is a “Land Breeze”

A

At night, land and the surrounding air cools more rapidly than air over the water
-This causes a wind from land to water

37
Q

What does “windward” mean

A

Anything upwind

or

The side of the boat closest to the wind

38
Q

What is a “Sea Breeze”

A

At daytime, land and the surrounding air heats up, rises, and is replaced by cooler air from the water

-This causes a wind from water to land

39
Q

Why is “Running” the slowest course

A

The faster you go the less apparent wind there is to push you

40
Q

What causes “tides”

A

The gravitational pull of the moon and to a lesser extent the sun

41
Q

What is “True Wind” vs “Apparent Wind”

A

True wind is wind you feel standing still

Apparent wind is a combination of true wind and the wind created by our moving forward

42
Q

Can you determine the current if you know the wind direction

A

Yes; look at the waters surface

Waves/chop = current running against the wind

Smooth/calm = wind and current aligned

Rough looking sea = strong wind blows against the current

Sailing (9 decks)

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