I'm bumping up this thread so that it will better correspond with the latest Sea Kayaker newsletter (Dec. 2, No. 20). SK's editor Chris Cunningham there addresses this subject of gauging wind speed. Chris reminds us of Eric Soares' notion of calibrating one's ability to accurately assess wind speed by use of an anemometer--you use the anemometer to train yourself to get better and better at determining wind speed on the water. I wholeheartedly recommend this. Take a look at the December Newsletter on this SK website, and check it out.