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This article is an excerpt from NauticEd’s online Skipper Large Keelboats Course, a comprehensive online sailing course for beginner to intermediate sailors to learn how to sail large sailboats 26 ft (8m) and above. The Skipper Large Keelboats course is part of the Skipper Course Bundle of online courses, also teaching you how to master maneuvering under power and docking!

You can learn to sail and improve your sailing with NauticEd, the international leader in sailing education.

Skipper Course Details > Get 2 Free Online Courses >
Car showing effects of apparent wind with speeds: 31.2 kph apparent, 10 kph true. Car at 25 kph, angle 16.1 degrees.

Apparent Wind Speed vs True Wind Speed

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How to Understand True vs Apparent Wind

Here is our latest wind animation built using html5 technology so that it works on computers and mobile devices. It means you can bookmark this page on your phone and use it to explain the concept of true vs apparent to anyone – even whilst out on the boat.

Slide the slider bar.

We are building this into our new basic sail trim iPad eLearning course. As soon as it is up we will link this page through to the App. In the meantime please enjoy true versus apparent wind animation explanation.

 

You can learn more in the Skipper Course....

Knowledge and theory for longer distances and overnight sailing in diverse conditions. The Skipper Course is a comprehensive online sailing course for beginner to intermediate sailors wanting to learn how to sail larger sailboats 26ft to 56ft. Or upgrade to the Skipper Course Bundle of online courses to also master maneuvering under power and docking!

Skipper Course Details > Get 2 Free Online Courses >

Author

  • Grant Headifen

    Grant Headifen is a USCG-certified Master Mariner (50-Ton), founder of NauticEd, and one of the sailing world's most recognized educators. With 46 years on the water, charters across 40+ global destinations, 5 sailing books, 30+ online courses, and 300,000+ students worldwide, Grant brings real-world expertise to every article. He pioneered fractional boat ownership through SailTime and serves on the Texas Boater Safety Advisory Board. NauticEd is the only U.S. sailing education body recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard under American National Standards.

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Last updated on June 24th, 2025
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