L'Eau Commotion Westabout

11:00pm Saturday 7th October 2017 ( UTC+2 ) Another day heading hard into a fresh breeze just of just under 20 knots, apparent wind. The term apparent wind is used as the wind recorded directly at the masthead and the speed of the yacht alters the actual reading of the strength of the wind. When fully set up with hull speed and magnetic heading fed in, the instrument would calculate and give the actual speed and direction of the wind over the water but these inputs have not been connected. Also by fairly straight forward geometry this can be calculated precisely. With my new found toy reading only apparent wind it is that to which I will refer to in the future. However you can say by Rule of Thumb, which by definition is right four out of five times, that to obtain a close approximation to the true wind speed you can do as follows. Subtract half the boat speed heading into wind, add half the boat speed to a quartering wind, wind astern add boat speed, wind abeam true speed. ( I only just now thought up this Rule so w e will see if it stands the Test of Time ) Anyhow having said all that I will now say this. The wind was reading over 20 knots as nightfall came with the promise of more to come so I wound in a fair bit of the jib and a double reefed main. It is now around 22 knots so I feel justified at my cautious approach. Looking good to round Aguhlas Tuesday. Good night.