If you are a sailor, you probably know that a lee shore is one of the most dangerous situations you can face on the water.
A lee shore is a stretch of shoreline that is to the leeward side of your boat, meaning the wind is blowing towards it. If you are sailing close to a lee shore, you risk being pushed into it by the wind and waves, possibly running aground or crashing into rocks, docks, or other obstacles.
In this article, we will explain what causes a lee shore, how to recognize it, and how to avoid it or escape from it safely.
Key Takeaways
- A lee shore is dangerous because it limits your escape route and increases the risk of running aground or colliding with obstacles.
- To avoid a lee shore, you should always keep a safe distance from the shore, monitor the wind direction and speed, and plan your course accordingly.
- To escape from a lee shore, you should sail as close to the wind as possible, tack away from the shore, use your engine if necessary, or anchor in a safe spot until the wind changes.
What Causes a Lee Shore?
A lee shore is caused by the combination of wind direction and land orientation. When the wind blows parallel or at an angle to the shore, it creates a windward shore and a leeward shore.
The windward shore is the one that faces the wind, while the leeward shore is the one that faces away from the wind.
The problem with sailing near a leeward shore is that the wind is pushing you towards it. This means that you have less room to maneuver and less time to react if something goes wrong.
You also have to deal with stronger waves and currents that can make sailing more difficult and dangerous.
A lee shore can be any kind of shoreline, such as a coast, an island, a river bank, or even a man-made structure like a pier or a breakwater. The size and shape of the land also affect how severe the lee shore effect is.
For example, a long and straight shoreline will create a more consistent and predictable wind pattern than a curved or irregular one.
A lee shore can also change depending on the wind direction and speed. A light breeze may not pose much of a threat, but a strong gust or a sudden shift can turn a benign situation into a perilous one.
Therefore, it is important to always be aware of the weather conditions and forecast when sailing near any kind of land.
How to Recognize a Lee Shore?
Recognizing a Lee shore is not always easy, especially if you are not familiar with the area or if the visibility is poor. However, there are some signs and clues that can help you identify a potential lee shore situation.
One of the most obvious signs is the direction of the waves. If they are breaking towards the shore, it means that the wind is blowing in the same direction. You can also look at the surface of the water and see if there are any ripples or streaks that indicate the wind direction.
Another sign is the position of your boat relative to the land. If you are sailing parallel or at an angle to the shore, you are likely on a leeward side. If you are sailing perpendicular or away from the shore, you are likely on a windward side.
You can also use your compass or GPS to check your heading and compare it with the wind direction. If they are roughly aligned, you are sailing in the lee. If they are opposite or perpendicular, you are sailing in the weather.
You can use your senses to feel and hear the wind. If it is blowing on your back or side, you are sailing in the lee. If it is blowing on your face or front, you are sailing in the weather.
How to Avoid a Lee Shore?
The best way to avoid a Lee shore is to always keep a safe distance from any kind of land when sailing, especially if you are not sure about the wind direction and speed. A good rule of thumb is to keep at least one nautical mile (1.85 km) between your boat and the nearest land.
You should also monitor the wind direction and speed regularly and adjust your course accordingly. You can use your instruments or visual cues like flags, smoke, clouds, or other boats to determine where the wind is coming from and how strong it is.
You should also plan your route ahead of time and avoid sailing into areas where you may encounter a lee shore.
For example, if you are sailing along a coast that curves inward, you should stay on the outside of the curve rather than cutting across it. This way, you will always have more sea room and more options to change course if needed.
If you are sailing near an island or other landmass that blocks or alters the wind flow, you should be extra careful and anticipate possible changes in wind direction and speed.
You should also avoid sailing between two islands or other land features that create a narrow passage where you may get trapped by a lee shore.
How to Escape from a Lee Shore?
If you find yourself too close to a lee shore and need to escape from it quickly, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of success.
Sail As Close to the Wind As Possible
The first step is to sail as close to the wind as possible, without entering the no-go zone. The no-go zone is the area where the wind is blowing directly from, and where you cannot sail at all.
The no-go zone is usually about 44 degrees wide, or 22 degrees on each side of the wind direction. If you try to sail into the no-go zone, your sails will lose power and start to flap, and your boat will slow down or stop.
To sail close to the wind, you need to set your sails close-hauled and tight. Close-hauled means that your sails are angled almost parallel to the centerline of your boat and that they are not affected by the wind direction.
To achieve this, you need to pull in your mainsheet and jib sheet until your sails are flat and smooth, without any wrinkles or curves. You also need to center your mainsail by using the traveler or the boom vang.
The exact angle that you can sail close to the wind depends on your boat design, your sail shape, and the wind conditions.
Some boats can sail closer to the wind than others, depending on their hull shape, keel type, and rigging. Some sails can also generate more lift than others, depending on their material, cut, and trim.
Generally speaking, you can expect to sail between 30 and 45 degrees from the apparent wind, which is the wind that you feel on board.
The apparent wind is different from the true wind, which is the wind that you see on land or on a weather station. The apparent wind is affected by your boat speed and direction, as well as the true wind speed and direction.
As you sail faster and closer to the wind, the apparent wind increases and shifts forward. This means that you need to adjust your sails accordingly to maintain optimal performance.
To determine how close to the wind you can sail, you can use your instruments or visual cues. Your instruments may include a compass, a GPS, a wind indicator, or a telltale.
A telltale is a small piece of yarn or fabric attached to your shrouds or sails that shows you the direction of the airflow over your boat.
If your telltales are streaming straight back on both sides of your sails, it means that you are sailing close to the wind without stalling.
You can also use visual cues such as flags, smoke, clouds, or other boats to estimate the wind direction and speed. You can also look at the waves and see if they are breaking toward or away from the shore.
If they are breaking towards the shore, it means that you are sailing in the lee.
Tack Away from the Shore As Soon As Possible
The second step is to tack away from the shore as soon as possible.
Tacking is a maneuver that allows you to change direction by turning your boat through the eye of the wind. By tacking, you can zig-zag your way toward your destination without sailing into the no-go zone.
To tack successfully, you need to coordinate your steering and sail handling. You need to steer your boat towards the wind until your sails start to luff (flap), then quickly push the tiller or wheel to turn your boat across the wind.
As you do this, you need to release your jib sheet from one side and pull it in on the other side, so that your jib switches sides with the wind. You also need to move your body weight to the new windward side to balance the boat and prevent heeling too much.
Tacking is a skill that requires practice and coordination, especially in strong winds or choppy seas. You need to time your turn and sail adjustment correctly, otherwise, you may lose speed or stall in the middle of the maneuver.
You also need to communicate clearly with your crew and warn them before you tack, so that they can be ready and help you.
Use the Engine (Only in Dire Situations)
The third step is to use your engine if necessary. If you are sailing in a motorized boat, you have the advantage of having an extra source of power and control.
You can use your engine to help you sail closer to the wind, to increase your speed and momentum, or to get out of trouble if your sails fail.
However, you should not rely on your engine alone to escape from a Lee shore. You should always try to sail as efficiently as possible, using your sails and rudder to steer your boat.
Your engine should be a backup option, not a primary one. You should also be aware of the potential hazards of using your engine near a lee shore, such as shallow water, rocks, debris, or other boats.
Anchor in a Safe Spot Until the Wind Changes
The fourth step is to anchor in a safe spot until the wind changes. If none of the above steps work, or if you are sailing in a non-motorized boat, you may have no choice but to anchor and wait for better conditions.
Anchoring can be a last resort option to avoid being pushed onto a lee shore by the wind and waves.
However, anchoring near a Lee shore can also be risky and challenging. You need to find a spot that has enough depth, good holding ground, and enough space around you.
You also need to set your anchor properly and securely, using enough scope and chain. You need to monitor your position and the weather constantly and be ready to weigh anchor and move if necessary.
Anchoring near a lee shore is not recommended unless you have no other option. You should always try to avoid sailing into a Lee shore situation in the first place or escape from it as soon as possible.
An Educating Story You Should Know About!
Sailing close to the wind can be exhilarating and rewarding, but also nerve-wracking and dangerous. I have experienced both sides of this coin in my sailing adventures, and I would like to share some personal anecdotes with you.
One time, I was sailing with my friends on a 40-foot sloop in the Mediterranean Sea. We were heading towards a small island that had a beautiful sandy beach and a cozy taverna.
The wind was blowing from the north at about 15 knots, and we were sailing close-hauled on a starboard tack.
We were making good progress and enjoying the ride, when we noticed that the island was getting closer and closer on our leeward side.
We realized that we had underestimated the distance and the wind angle and that we were sailing too close to the Lee shore. We decided to tack away from the island and sail on a port tack for a while, before tacking back towards our destination.
However, as we started to turn our boat into the wind, we encountered a sudden gust that increased the wind speed to over 20 knots.
Our boat heeled over dramatically, and our sails started to luff violently. We struggled to complete the tack, but we lost too much speed and stalled in the middle of it.
We were stuck in irons, facing directly into the wind, with no way to turn or move forward. The wind was pushing us sideways towards the island, which was now only a few hundred meters away.
We could see the waves breaking on the rocks and hear them crashing loudly.
We panicked and tried everything we could think of: easing the sails, pushing the tiller hard over, and moving our weight around. Nothing worked. We were drifting helplessly toward disaster.
Then we remembered that we had an engine. We quickly turned it on and put it in gear. We felt a surge of relief as we felt our boat moving forward again. We managed to steer our boat away from the wind and resume sailing on a port tack.
We looked back at the island and saw how close we had come to hitting it. We were shaken by our near miss, but also grateful that we had escaped from it safely.
Important Boating Concepts You Need to Know
Sailing close to the wind is not only a matter of skill and experience but also of science and mathematics.
True Winds vs Apparent Wind
One of the most important concepts to grasp is the difference between true wind and apparent wind.
True wind is the wind that you see on land or on a weather station. It is measured by its speed and direction relative to a fixed point on Earth. Apparent wind is the wind that you feel on board your boat. It is measured by its speed and direction relative to your boat’s speed and direction.
Apparent wind is affected by your boat speed and direction, as well as by the true wind speed and direction. As you sail faster and closer to the wind, the apparent wind increases and shifts forward.
This means that you need to adjust your sails accordingly to maintain optimal performance.
The relationship between true wind and apparent wind can be expressed by a vector diagram, which shows the magnitude and direction of each vector (force).
The diagram below shows an example of how true wind and apparent wind are related when sailing close-hauled at 6 knots in a 10-knot true wind.
The diagram shows that when sailing close-hauled at 6 knots in a 10-knot true wind, the apparent wind is about 13 knots and 30 degrees from your boat’s centerline. This means that you need to set your sails close-hauled and tight, at about 30 degrees from your boat’s centerline, to sail as close to the wind as possible.
Lift vs Drag (L/D Ratio)
Another important concept to understand is the difference between lift and drag. Lift is the force that propels your boat forward when sailing close to the wind. Drag is the force that slows your boat down when sailing close to the wind.
Lift is generated by your sails when they act like airplane wings. As the air flows over your sails, it creates a pressure difference between the leeward side (low pressure) and the windward side (high pressure) of your sails. This pressure difference pushes your sails (and your boat) forward.
Drag is generated by your sails when they act like parachutes. As the air flows over them, they create resistance and friction that slow your boat down.
Lift and drag are proportional to each other, meaning that as you increase one, you also increase the other. However, lift and drag are not equal to each other, meaning that you can have more lift than drag, or vice versa. The ratio between lift and drag is called the lift-to-drag ratio, or L/D ratio.
The L/D ratio is a measure of how efficient your sails are at generating lift and avoiding drag. The higher the L/D ratio, the better your sails are at propelling your boat forward. The lower the L/D ratio, the worse your sails are at slowing your boat down.
The L/D ratio depends on several factors, such as your sail shape, your sail trim, your boat speed, and your angle of attack. The angle of attack is the angle between the apparent wind direction and the chord line of your sail. The chord line is an imaginary line that connects the leading edge and the trailing edge of your sail.
The angle of attack determines how much lift and drag your sails produce. If the angle of attack is too small, your sails will not generate enough lift to move your boat forward. If the angle of attack is too large, your sails will generate too much drag to slow your boat down.
There is an optimal angle of attack that maximizes the L/D ratio for each sail and each wind condition.
The optimal angle of attack for sailing close to the wind is usually between 10 and 15 degrees. This means that you need to set your sails so that they are slightly angled away from the apparent wind direction, but not too much. You can use your telltales or other indicators to find the optimal angle of attack for your sails.
To reduce drag when sailing close to the wind, you need to make your sails as smooth and flat as possible. This reduces the amount of turbulence and friction that the air creates as it flows over your sails. You can achieve this by adjusting your sail controls, such as halyards, outhauls, cunninghams, backstays, sheets, travelers, and vangs.
You also need to reduce the amount of wetted surface area of your boat. Wetted surface area is the area of your boat that is in contact with the water. The more wetted surface area you have, the more drag you create.
You can reduce your wetted surface area by keeping your boat light and balanced, by using a hydrodynamic hull shape and keel design, and by keeping your hull clean and smooth.
The table below shows some examples of how different factors affect lift and drag when sailing close to the wind.
| Factor | Effect on Lift | Effect on Drag |
| Sail depth | Increases lift up to a point | Increases drag beyond a point |
| Sail twist | Decreases lift at the top | Decreases drag at the top |
| Boat speed | Increases lift | Increases drag |
| Angle of attack | Increases lift up to a point | Increases drag beyond a point |
| Sail controls | Adjusts lift and drag | Adjusts lift and drag |
| Wetted surface area | No effect | Increases drag |
Frequently Asked Questions
To land on a lee shore safely, approach the shore at an angle, not directly into the wind. Reduce sail as you get closer to the shore, and be prepared to drop the sails and use the oars if necessary.
The opposite of a lee shore is a weather shore, which is a shore that is upwind from your sailboat. A weather shore offers more protection from the wind and waves than a lee shore, but it also requires more skill and caution to approach and dock.
To prevent capsizing, keep the boat balanced. This means evenly distributing the weight of the boat and its occupants. It also means not sailing too close to the wind. When sailing close to the wind, the boat will heel over naturally. If the boat heels over too far, it will capsize.
If you sail too close to the wind, your sails will lose their power and efficiency, and your boat will slow down or stop. This is also called luffing or being in irons.
The leeward side of a sailboat is the side that is facing away from the wind. The leeward side is usually lower than the windward side, which is the side that is facing the wind. The leeward side is also where the mainsail and boom are positioned when sailing.
