What does windward mean on a boat?
Windward means toward the wind or on the side from which the wind is coming. For Rule 12, a sailing vessel’s windward side is deemed to be the side opposite the one on which her mainsail is carried.
Related terms
How it works
Windward moves with the wind; it is never permanently port or starboard. If the wind comes across the port side, port is windward and the sails normally lie to leeward on starboard.
For two sailing vessels on the same tack with risk of collision, Rule 12 requires the vessel to windward to keep out of the way of the vessel to leeward.
The side the wind reaches first
Picture the wind travelling across the water toward the boat. The side it reaches first is windward. The opposite, sheltered side is leeward. This moving frame is central to sail trim, tacks, and same-tack encounters.
On the water
- A crew member moves to the windward rail to counter heel.
- A boat can make progress to windward by alternating close-hauled tacks.
- On the same tack, the windward sailing vessel keeps clear of the leeward one.
Common mistake
The side carrying the mainsail is normally leeward, not windward. Also, “windward gives way” only describes the Rule 12 same-tack case—not every encounter.
Remember it
The WIND reaches the WINDWARD side first.