Learning to Sail: Reading the Wind – How to Spot a Gust Before It Spots You
Welcome back to my blog where I navigate the twists and turns of learning to sail as a 65+ year old on the River Thames. The wind is a mysterious creature – invisible, unpredictable, and occasionally a bit cheeky. But learning to read it is one of the most useful (and satisfying) skills you can develop as a sailor. Especially if you’d prefer not to be flattened by a rogue gust or left becalmed while everyone else zooms past.
What Does Wind Look Like?
You can't see the wind directly, but you can see what it's doing:
Ripples on the water: darker patches usually mean stronger wind. These are gusts on approach – spot them early and be ready to react.
Flags and wind indicators: if the club burgee is flapping like mad while your sail just droops, something's wrong.
Trees and reeds on the bank: a rustle or sway gives clues to wind strength and direction before it hits your boat.
Other boats: if the boat ahead suddenly heels over, you’ve got about five seconds to think about your sail trim and weight placement.
Types of Wind You’ll Meet
Steady Wind – Rare. Treat it with respect and suspicion.
Gusts – Sudden increases in wind strength. They like to strike when you’re eating a biscuit or adjusting the vang.
Lulls – Gaps in the wind, causing confusion and flapping sails. Cue dramatic slowdowns and a lot of looking around.
Shifts – When the wind changes direction. You thought you were on the perfect tack? Think again.
Preparing for a Gust
Ease the mainsheet slightly to depower the sail and stop the boat from heeling too far.
Move your weight out – to the gunwale if you're feeling brave.
Keep the tiller steady, but be ready to bear away if the boat rounds up.
Anticipation is key. A gust that surprises you is a gust that might send you swimming.
Using the Wind to Your Advantage
Sail into the gusts, not away from them. More wind = more speed (if you can handle it).
Tack on the shifts – when the wind changes, use it to improve your angle and get a leg up on the competition.
Practice spotting changes: the more time you spend watching the water and the sails, the more intuitive it becomes.
Final Thought
Reading the wind is part science, part art, and part wild guess. But the more you sail, the more you learn to feel it in your fingertips (and occasionally your knees).
Next Lesson: Recovery Drills – What to Do When It All Goes Sideways (Sometimes Literally)?
