Windward and Leeward

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Windward and Leeward

Windward and leeward describe the position of a place or object relative to the wind. Windward is the side facing the wind; leeward is the side sheltered from it. Which side is meant depends on the wind direction and the point of reference.

Windward: facing the wind

An object is windward of another when, viewed from the direction the wind is coming from, it lies in front of that reference point. For an island, the windward side is the coast the wind reaches first. For example, if the wind blows from west to east, the island’s west coast is windward, while its east coast is on the leeward side. The directional term describes a relationship to the wind and is not permanently tied to a particular place.

Leeward: on the side sheltered from the wind

Leeward refers to the side beyond the reference point, where the wind flows away. An island or another obstacle may shelter this area from the wind; leeward initially describes its position on the side away from the wind. The degree of shelter depends on the object and the circumstances. If the wind shifts, the windward and leeward sides may shift accordingly.

The terms also apply to ships. For example, a ship may be leeward of an island when it is on the island’s sheltered side. Windward and leeward describe neither the ship’s course nor a fixed side of the ship. Port and starboard remain fixed sides as defined from aboard the ship; depending on the wind direction, the same side of a ship may be windward at one time and leeward later. The article Port, Starboard, Bow and Stern explains the differences from bow and stern.

Wind direction and fixed sides of a ship

For clarity, it helps to keep the point of reference in mind: “leeward of the island” means the island’s side sheltered from the wind, whereas “starboard” names a fixed side of a ship.

Wind conditions can also be classified by strength. The Beaufort scale and marine weather forecast describe this other aspect of the wind. A ship’s movements, such as rolling, pitching and yawing, are separate terms explained in the article on Ship Movements.