Is a “Beam Reach” Based on True Wind or Apparent Wind?

So, back to the question – Is a “Beam Reach” based on the True Wind angle or the Apparent Wind Angle?

Simplifying for New Sailors

For students just starting their sailing journey, clarity and simplicity are essential. Sailing already demands the assimilation of new skills, terminologies, and situational awareness. Introducing the nuanced differences between true wind and apparent wind while discussing a beam reach risks overwhelming the student. For this reason, many instructors opt to teach that a beam reach is simply when the wind you feel on your face is coming directly across the side of the boat, corresponding to 90 degrees on a typical wind vane. This straightforward approach ensures students can grasp the concept without diving into advanced aerodynamics.

Answer? Just sail a Beam Beach by the apparent wind!

And here’s why: as you “fall off” of the wind, or rather as you sail ‘further’ from the true wind direction (i.e., going from close hauled to downwind points of sail), the effect of apparent wind decreases.  Thus, you’re still dealing with a combination of true and apparent wind at a Beam Reach – but, figuring the aerodynamics of that isn’t practical when sailing and dealing with other factors such as your boat speed, design, leeway, and drag. So look at your wind vane or yarns on the shrouds that indicate apparent wind at about 90 degrees to the sailboat, adjust sails accordingly, and have fun (after all, it’s typically your fastest point of sail)!

A Practical Perspective

On a beam reach, the true wind and apparent wind will differ, with the apparent wind typically coming from a slightly more forward direction than the true wind. Teaching this distinction early can be more confusing than beneficial. As students progress, they will naturally learn to identify and use both wind types appropriately.

Teaching to the apparent wind is simple. The wind vane at the top of the mast and the “A” arrow (A for apparent) on the electronic wind meter will match. Having the wind vane pointed directly abeam means the wind the boat feels is coming directly across the beam. It is easy to feel and easy to see.

As an additional note the “T” arrow (T for True) on the electronic wind meter is not measured by an electronic wind meter but rather it is calculated and the calculation is more than complex – not just simply an addition of the boat speed and wind speed vectors. True wind calculation must take into account heeling angle, wind shear, mast interference, instrument calibration and lag, and sea state as examples.

Thus, a person on a moving boat can never really determine the true wind angle.

Apparent Wind and Close Hauling

Interestingly, this discussion highlights the practical reliance on apparent wind in other points of sail. For instance, close-hauling—sailing as close to the wind as possible—is almost always measured using apparent wind. The helmsman, the sails, and the instruments aboard the boat feel only the apparent wind, not the true wind. Thus, the practical demands of close-hauling rely exclusively on apparent wind.

This raises an important question: at what point should a sailor transition from focusing on apparent wind angle (as in close-hauling) to focusing on true wind angle (as in a beam reach)? The answer lies in practicality. During most sailing scenarios, especially when sailing off the wind, sailors aim for tangible goals like compass bearings or visual markers on land. The navigator will rarely say – “turn onto a beam reach”. Instead, the navigator will give a compass bearing (or true chart direction) or in day sailing situations many times the navigator will ask to point to an object on land or a distant cloud or in the case of racing – a race marker (allowing for leeway of course). The distinction between true and apparent wind becomes secondary to the primary objective: effective navigation.

Thus we find that it is really only in teaching how to sail and teaching the points of sail that we ask someone to go onto a beam reach – just so that the student can learn the various points of sail to help understand sail trim with the wind angles.

A Matter of Vernacular

Ultimately, the distinction between true and apparent wind on a beam reach boils down to vernacular. Sailing instructors aim to provide students with a foundational understanding that is actionable and practical. In most real-world situations, sailors do not obsess over whether they are measuring their beam reach relative to the true or apparent wind. Instead, they focus on achieving their sailing goals—whether it’s reaching a destination, maintaining speed, or trimming sails effectively.

Encouraging Discussion

The question of true wind versus apparent wind on a beam reach is an excellent topic for deeper exploration as students advance. For now, however, the most effective approach is simplicity. By teaching a beam reach as when the wind that the boat, the student, and the sails, feel is directly across the side of the boat, we provide students with a clear and actionable definition. As they gain experience, they will naturally develop a more nuanced understanding of wind dynamics.

So, is the true answer to this question open to interpretation? Perhaps.  But in sailing, as in life, simplicity often leads to competence and competence ultimately fosters confidence and curiosity for deeper learning. That’s a journey worth embarking upon. Having said that, NauticEd’s position is that a Beam Reach is best thought of as determined by the apparent wind – purely because of its visual simplicity.

A Further Animation to See Wind Angle Relative to the Boat

Click on any of the point of sail names below and you will see the wind vane showing the direction of the apparent wind (as well as how the head sail should be set).