Sea kayakers are, first and foremost, mariners. As such, it is important for us to understand and use nautical terms from a common perspective so that we can be mutually understood. Now and again confusion arises from improper use of the terms "lee shore", "in the lee', "windward (or weather) shore", and "to windward (or to weather)". Here are the definitions from Chapman: Piloting, Seamanship, and Small-Boat Handling: 1) Lee--the direction toward which the wind blows; an object sheltered from the wind is "in the lee". A lee shore is the coast lying in the direction toward which the wind is blowing. 2) Weather Shore--The coast lying in the direction from which the wind is blowing, as opposed to a lee shore. 3) Windward--The direction from which the wind is blowing.

It is clear from this that "weather" and "windward" are synonyms in these usages. It is also important that kayakers understand and use these terms in the context of being in the boat and on the water.

Every now and then one comes across misuses of these terms, and these lead to head-scratching and maybe serious confusion. In Randy Washburn's excellent book, "The Coastal Kayaker's Manual" (1989), he discusses practicing rough-water paddling (p. 118) along "windward shores", specifically referring to Gasworks Park on Lake Union in Seattle, on days with southerly winter gales. Clearly, the Gasworks Park shoreline, which lies at the northern end of open water on Lake Union, is a lee shore during southerly winds. Washburn goes on to tell the reader to "look for windward shores where you and your boat will be washed onto a hospitable shore such as a beach."

Similarly, in a fine recent article about the Bulldog Onshore Assisted Rescue on Sea Kayaking Dot Net, the author repeatedly refers to the coast upon which the wind is blowing, the waves are breaking, and the paddlers being driven, as a windward coast when it is clearly a lee coast or shore. Let us be clear. From the perspective of an observer in a boat, on the water, a lee shore during heavy winds and rough wind-driven waves is a dangerous place to be, and is to be avoided. Conversely, a weather or windward shore in such conditions is a relatively safe and sheltered place to be in a boat, as one will be "in the lee" of the shore, sheltered from the wind.

I conclude by directing kayakers' attention to their well-worn copies of Moby Dick, Chapter 23, "The Lee Shore", where Herman Melville makes abundantly clear the dangers associated with a lee shore, (and thereby why it is so important to distinguish a lee from a weather or windward shore.

Bill commented (in discussing reporting wind velocity--"How Hard is the Wind Blowing, Really?") that kayakers should think about and report velocities and distances in knots and nautical (sea) miles. Kayakers should think like the mariners they are. This prompts me to recycle this similar thought regarding the proper, accurate use of the terms "lee shore", "weather shore", "windward shore", "in the lee". As mariners, sea kayakers should be familiar and comfortable with these expressions, and use them correctly.

How then do you define each?

knots and nautical (sea) miles - A nautical mile is 6080 feet - but, more importantly it is 1 minute of latitude. The importance of this to boaters is that you can take distances off the latitude scales located on the east and west side of a nautical chart. 1 minute of longitude is only equal to a nautical mile at the equator.

Speed in knots works the same as miles per hour however the proper reporting is knots, not knots per hour. The term comes from the use of a chip log to determine a vessels speed in the days of square riggers. The log was thrown over the side attached to a long line with knots tied at specified intervals. At the proper time a 28 second glass was turned and the speed of the boat was the number of knots that were pulled over the taffrail before the sand ran through the glass.

lee shore", A lee shore is the shore you will blown onto as your vessel is blown to leeward. While a weather shore offers protection from the wind. Speaking in traditionally, understood nautical terms does help us when we communicate with the rest of the boating world.

Searay, my original post gives the definitions of lee shore, etc. from Chapman--you might want to take another look at it. Also, it is important to remember that speeds in knots are not statute (land) miles per hour, but nautical (sea) miles per hour. I find it best to deal with sea miles as being 15% bigger than land (statute) miles. So if I tell a non-nautical kayaker that I paddled 20 nautical miles, I can then do a quick mental calculation and tell them I paddled: 20 plus 10% of 20 (= 2 miles), plus 5% of 20 (= 1 mile), equals 20+2+1=23 statute miles. A statute mile is thus roughly 87% as long as a sea mile. NOAA charts always show distances in nautical (sea) miles. By the way, aviation also uses knots and nautical miles.

All.

Don't forget not all the world uses miles, we use Kilometetrs in Australia, in fact US miles are different form Imperial miles. So Just use Nautical miles and knots and then we have a standard.

Cheers

Bill

(Bump--for Datakoll)

search Google Images for: round tube air flow

the link is long

tap the 4th photo right, top line.

is 17th century language difficult ?

Datakoll, we are looking forward to meaningful comment from you. When can we expect it?

Earth Observatory search: leeward cloud eddy

insufficient ? try your own and post.

Circle track's graphic supports Washburn's english ?

EO>

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Search/index.php?hq=site%3Aearthobservatory.nasa.gov%2FIOTD%2F&q=leeward+dloud+eddy

Burch has a paragraph or two surrounded with several pages of relevancy.

"What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach."