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The Pilot’s Book · Sea and sailing

Wind and currents

Sea and sailing

With the wind behind, up to +45 % speed; into the wind, slower, and dead into it you barely move. Currents carry the ship on their own.

  1. The arrow on the minimap's rim is the wind. Green: it helps your course. Red: it is against you. Blue: it blows across your beam.
    1The arrow on the minimap's rim is the wind. Green: it helps your course. Red: it is against you. Blue: it blows across your beam.
  2. The wind behind adds up to +45 % to the speed, a head wind takes up to a fifth off. Every rig has a "dead" angle into the wind: square sails 65°, fore-and-aft 42°, mixed 52°. Turn off the wind a little and the knots come back.
    2The wind behind adds up to +45 % to the speed, a head wind takes up to a fifth off. Every rig has a "dead" angle into the wind: square sails 65°, fore-and-aft 42°, mixed 52°. Turn off the wind a little and the knots come back.
  3. Currents are the pale lines with chevrons on the chart (layer «All»). They run at 3–4.6 m/s and carry the ship whether her sails are up or not: ride them for free speed, and steer across them carefully.
    3Currents are the pale lines with chevrons on the chart (layer «All»). They run at 3–4.6 m/s and carry the ship whether her sails are up or not: ride them for free speed, and steer across them carefully.

Try it in the game

See also

The wheel and the sailsDrag the wheel the way to sail; «+» and «−» set the sail; the arc shows how much canvas is set; on a keyboard, W/A/S/D.4 stepsStorms and the jury sailIn a storm, never sail with full canvas: it tears. Three quarters is safe. With the sails gone and no sailcloth, raise the jury sail.4 stepsThe chart, «Where am I» and the minimapThe minimap (top right) opens the chart. Its chips switch the layers; «Where am I» brings your ship back into view.3 steps