Glossary · Sailing & navigation
Apparent wind
Also called: Vent apparent, AWS, AWA, apparent wind speed
The wind felt on board: the true wind combined with the wind created by the boat's speed.
A moving boat creates its own headwind. Combined with the true wind, it gives the apparent wind, which always comes from further forward. Very fast boats, such as foiling multihulls, go so fast that the apparent wind seems to come from ahead almost all the time, even when the true wind blows from behind.
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No source yet · updated 30 Sept 2026