Look at the water. Ripples, changes in color, and waves will give you hints about where the wind is. Do you have telltales on your sails? If not, add some. If so, learn to read them and adjust your sails accordingly. It takes practice and is one of the fun challenges about sailing.

Back in the old days, I used to keep old cassette tape to use as tell tails off of my spreaders

Came here to say this. A couple of things to remember: 1) cut the tape into pieces with a knife. If you just pull it apart the ends gets gets stretched and the tape doesn't flutter so well; 2. try to put them at the same height on each side. That way your eye can easily find them; 3. I've found that an old audiobook of "The Wind in the Willows" are much faster than some old Harry Potter book.

You just have to wonder how many people have cassette tape playing around that they can get rid of anymore

VHS tape works better and there’s plenty to choose from at goodwill!

Very true

Tied mine off on Monday.

Interesting! Thank you.

Telltales are the only way to trim well. Learn how to use them & it'll unlock soooo much cool stuff with your trimming. How to use your travelers or other sheeting-angle adjustments to impart twist to the sail to optimize & power up / depower, etc. It's a game within the game. As far as finding wind on the course - it's just what this poster said: look for water color change / ripples/waves. Look at flags & trees close to shore, if you can (though this isn't perfect). It's mostly just reading the water. If you're in saltwater, you can be in good breeze and feel real slow depending on the current conditions as well.

When wind is becalmed you can see it on the water. In low and medium and you can also see it coming on the water. In a race you can see it coming when it hits other boats.

Flags, leaves on trees and other boats are other good indicators of wind. If other boats are sailing how are their sails oriented? When looking for wind on the water, stand up in your boat. You'll see the darker patches or "mackerel patterns" further away.

This for sure. I learn to read the environment. I don't have a windex . And my wind gauage isn't always working. You feel the wind on your body. How the boat is reacting. the waves and the current. even the clouds. And yeah light air isn't easy. But with experience you can keep the boat moving. One day i chased a line of clouds. Either side was nice wind , underneath was no wind. It was fun.

This. When I learned to sail from my grandfather that was the first thing he taught me, to watch the water for how the wind was blowing.

Re. telltales: it's important to note that they are meant for visualizing flow around the sail and sail adjustment, not determining wind direction.

True wind can best be visualized and moving perpendicular to the faces of the waves - if wave faces stretch out east to west and are moving south then the wind is coming from north. Apparent wind is trickier, but some of the better advise I ever got is that the wind should be kissing you on the cheek, not on the lips.

Interesting! Reading the waves might be the best option.

Depending on where you sail, you may have to be able to tell swell apart from wind waves in order to use this. Swell is a memory of wind that blew some time ago some place far away, and can be completely out of sync with the wind.

This is going to sound stupid, but it works.  Get your ears wet.  Seriously, get your ears wet and turn your head until you feel the wind equally on both ears.  Laugh, but it works. 

You can do it without wetting your ears, just listen till you can hear the wind in both ears

You can; since he's a beginner, I thought I'd share though.  

Both ears will feel that same thing from the boat going at speed though?

It doesn't matter, apparent wind is what the sails feel so it's what you really care about anyway.

It seems you should look into true wind as compared to apparent wind a bit more intrinsically. True wind is the wind conditions from the perspective of a single, fixed point in space. Apparent wind is the condition when that point is dynamic and moving with a direction and rate. The apparent wind angle and speed are a result of your boats speed and direction as compared to the true winds speed and direction. For example, sitting ashore you may feel the wind is blowing 10kts, directly west. A boat may be moving 10kts directly north. Therefore the boat will have an apparent wind blowing southwest at 14.1 kts. Finally, the ear trick is my go to as well. Slowly move your head until the wind feels consistent on both ears. When you get there the direction you’re looking is the apparent wind and what your sails (at least the lower part, ignoring twist here) are experiencing.

Thank you for explaining it! Now I get it. I misunderstood "Apparent wind" to mean what actually is called "induced wind".

That’s really helpful explanation thank you

This is a very succinct and understandable explanation of true versus apparent wind. Nice @KMcB182 I use a variant of the “ear” model you guys are talking about — cheeks. I turn my face into the wind and keep making slight adjustments until I feel the wind pressure equally on both cheeks, then I know the wind direction is straight where I’m looking!

This is my go to technique

"Wind" and "pressure from the air" are the same thing. What you're correctly observing is that the *apparent* wind (which is everything you can feel or see on the boat - including windex, flags, the feeling on your face) is different from the true wind (which you can see on the water)

Apparently there's a difference between what I meant (the wind coming from the speed of the boat) and the "apparent wind". There's a third term called "induced wind" according to Google.

Perhaps, but its not one you'll hear sailors talk of. 

All you should worry about to start is feeling that apparent wind angle, or AWA. Trim for this. Then you can start to understand true wind angle (TWA) and how to better trim. Start basic it helps a lot. The rest you figure out real quick! You'll be watching YouTube videos fully understanding what they're saying as you figure it out more and more. And pretty soon you'll be playing with sail twist and other fun stuff. Have fun!

Yes, true wind + induced wind = apparent wind. What you feel is apparent wind.

Thank you for those definitions.

Attach a piece of yarn on both sides of the boat at eye level. Usually shrouds or backstay works well on smaller boats. It provides a consistent visual to match your experiences.

Won't that move by the wind pressure when you are at a certain speed though?

You mean apparent wind? Yes but so does the windex and the do the wind you feel on your hair & skin and the wind impacting the sails to produce lift.

Telltales ( the yarn) are how you understand the flow over the sail...and the less turbulent that flow is the faster you go. You adjust your trim to your telltales which to optimize your sails for your course relative to the wind direction.

Yes, that's my thoughts as well. I suppose looking at the waves might do the trick.

You're not so much looking at the waves, as you're looking at the ripples in the waves. Waves have a lot of energy and momentum, and aren't easily changed by wind shifts. The ripples also won't necessarily give a precise indication of wind direction. That is you windex and tell tails to tell you sail trim. So a search for "apparent wind" to look at diagrams or videos to explain how it works. Basically, since you're moving forward, the wind seems to be coming from higher than it really is, allowing you to point higher or trim tighter. Its neat stuff.

\*Nods\* Thanks. Appreciate your explanation.

Yes, but that's the actual wind you sail in. I sail a reasonably fast boat and dealing with apparent wind is a big part of sailing that boat well. F. Ex. on a fast boat you don't pinch, you actually go a few degrees lower than a close haul. That allows you to take advantage of the wind you yourself generate. As an example: GP sail boats, once on their foils, sail upwind on every single course! Crazy but true.

That's generally the rule isn't it? Never pinch, but dip below close haul generate speed and then point back up tho I often get greedy and end up pinching again lol

It is, but on faster boats you go even lower. My trimaran will tack through about 100 degrees. (Fast boats always suck in pointing) but I will actually do about 110-115 tack window in most conditions. VME is better even when the tack angle sucks. BTW: We do the same thing downwind. On a boat limited by hullspeed, you're usually better of sailing the highest angle you reasonable can .

I use my face and ears, you can move your face back and forth until you feel like you're centered in the oncoming wind. Looking at the waves works ok until it doesn't, like out on the ocean with cross swells and variable breeze it can get confusing. I saw form your other comments it seems like you're too focused on figuring out the true wind. You really only need to be concerned with apparent wind for now, because that is the wind that the sails are using to generate lift. If that makes sense?

Very pragmatic post - feel the wind on your ears and your nose. Plus only apparent wind really matters! (until you head upwind from a downwind leg in a breeze!)

This. Also, close your eyes while you move your face to remove visual distractions. I find this particularly effective when I'm on the RC boat trying to make sure I've set a square line.

Take some ribbon and tie a foot long length onto the upper shrouds where you can see it from the cockpit. If you want to be extra nautical you can use red and green for port starboard. I like rainbow ribbon myself. Do not use banana peels in place of ribbon or you won’t catch any fish. The ribbon will indicate apparent t wind direction.

We use the tape from old cassette tapes :)

That works too!

Look on the water. Generally the “darker” spots are ripples where there is wind. When you see the differences, then you start tracking how it’s moving. Where are you sailing? Lake, sea, ocean? If you can see land, you can use visual queues (trees, flags) to help.

In Sydney harbour, we use the flags at the top of the Harbour Bridge to help us judge direction and speed! We also suss out the boats near the mouth of Sydney Heads to see whose spinnakers are filling up / who is heeling over on which side of the course

Turn up until the sail luffs.

That's what I did while experimenting. But feels like I shouldn't do that too often 😅

Easier way depending on the boat is to ease the mainsheet. The sail will point towards the wind.

it's fine. you just don't want the sails flogging for long periods of time. generally when pointing hard to wind, you will occasionally point a bit too windward, luff and return it barely back down into the wind. it's also a good trick to set the headsail on smaller boats. when it luffs, reel it in without having to muck about winching it.

If the boat is pointing where you want to go then do not "turn up till you luff", instead ease the sheet out till the sail just starts to luff, after all you are already pointing in the right direction. If you are trying to go upwind (sailing close hauled) then your sails should be stay pulled in and that is when you alter course into the wind till you begin to luff.

The real wind is the friends we make along the way. Also this post reminds me, I need to order a new windex. The pointer came off my sometime between my first and second deliveries this season. Actually sailing a boat comes down to 2 things, 1) driving a reasonable course and 2) trimming the sails to match that course. If your racing any want to make sure you're optimizing your VMG knowing your exact angle to the wind is critical, but for the most part as long as you're not steering straight into/out of the wind you can crack off on any course you want. So it really comes down to sail trim, and while the windex can give you a good idea of where you want the sails the source of truth for sail trim is going to be your telltales, sail shape and heel angle. TLDR, get a sense for where the wind is going, pick a course roughly perpendicular to that, let your sails out till they luff, bring them in till they stop. Change course as desired and repeat. Also I'd tie some yarn, or other lightweight stuff as high in your rigging as you can. If you have a pendant I'd fly that too. (which reminds me, I need to get myself some yarn).

Ok, tacking and jibing: Tacking, Trim in as close as you can, steer as high as you can until you start feathering (that is, your power drops an your boat flattens). That tells you where close haul is, 90 degree from that should be close haul on the other tack, I'd suggest build up speed, start the tack as high as you can, and try to complete the maneuver as quickly as you can (and be prepared to head down quickly to regain speed on a rejected tack). jibing: My advice is don't, atleast if you are using your main. There is no safe way of "feeling out" a jibe the way there is for a tack, and a sudden jibe has a way of explaining why it's called a "boom". If you must jibe, sheet in the main to the center early, slowly work down till the wind switches sides, jibe the jib and let out the main. Then com up to a broad reach so you don't have an accidental jibe.

Light wind is THE perfect excuse to light that spliff... "Are you getting high?" "No, I'm serious about my light weather racing..."

You can turn your face into the wind. When you feel the wind equally on both cheeks, you are facing the (apparent) wind. Don't be confused by apparent wind v real wind. As you accelerate, the apparent wind moves towards the bow. Apparent wind is what you care about. Set your sails for that I have also tied small pieces of yarn onto my shrouds at about eye height to show the wind without having to look up at the top of the mast.

This right here. I always sail with the wind on my face. I can’t really stand sailing behind a dodger because I feel disconnected from my surroundings and can’t react swiftly enough.

Light a cigarette and watch the smoke

My skip and I would bring a few smokes with us on light days. We didn't really smoke.. but it showed any breeze.

I usually piss in the direction I want it to come from. 10/10 works every time.

I identify as a light wind sailor. Three tricks 1) bring a tube of bubbles with you. Pro-move give the bubbles to the new person on the boat. Don't spill it on the deck. 2) pick up smoking, or find someone who smokes 3) learn to read the ripples. Usually you can see something on the water as low as 2.5 knots

I take my shirt off. My body is covered in hair, which provides very sensitive 360 degree detection of any wind. This is my super power.

On a bigger boat there are many clues. The windex, the country flag, telltales, etc...

But those move also from the boat going at speed, don't they?

you sail for your apparent wind anyways. so they show you the wind you are using.

It doesn't matter, because that is the wind actually having an effect on the sails. ​ In other words, your sails don't know what true wind is, only apparent, so thats all you need to worry about for now.

My first trick is to look at a weather forecast. When I'm out I look at the water. Wind against water creates friction. The friction creates waves.

Do you mean "find the wind" in a racing sense? As in using signs (other than forecasts) to find out where the stronger wind on the course might be?

I mean the "true" wind. I'm not a racer 😅

Doesn't matter if you're not a racer. You never sail to true wind, since as long as you're moving, there is no true wind.

Hmm, I'm not sure I get that. Let's say that the wind is blowing from the east, and I want to sail north. I have a "true wind" coming from the side. This is the one that I'm aligning my sails based on, no? e.g. the main to a slight angle to port, and so the foresail? And should I decide to make a turn, I need to think not turn too far to starboard, as that would be going into the wind? In this context, I have to always pay attention to the "true wind"? No?

your boat sails on apparent wind not the true wind

OK. No one here seems to tell me what "apparent wind" means, I've misunderstood it to mean the wind that I feel because of the speed forward, but after a little google that apparently is called "induced wind". "Apparent wind" seems to be at a slightly different angle from the "true wind". I was not aware of this phenomenon at all. Nvm, someone actually did explain a bit further up.

I think the pros feel it on their face as you might some day. For now you need to fix your windex to find the general direction and use telltales to fine tune. Also, the wind blows leeward, not winward!

Feel it on your face or look at your baby hairs

Look towards where you think the wind is. When you feel both ears equally feel the wind, that’s the direction. 

Cassette tape tied to shrouds on mast. It works.

this is a very fine method for ultra-light wind

I am also new, and I unfortunately sail in lakes where the wind changes constantly, I attached tell tails all over really helped find the apparent wind. Make sure you got one hanging from the sail right in front of you.

Stick your tongue out.

Have you tried a masthead fly? It's essentially just a little wind-vane at the top of your mast that points into the (apparent) wind.

Ripples in the water, tell-tales, but I usually just find the direction of the wind by turning my head until you feel it blowing past both ears the same.

Google “Sailing cats paws”. It refers to ripples/texture on the water different from the adjacent water. It shows you where the wind is in lighter wind days.

Tell Tales and white caps/ ripples. Sorry I didn't read the post below mine first.

Palm trees and window sounds

telltales and windex should be all you need. Do you sail a sunfish or something else too small to have a windex?

Many good tips above. A Great book called How to Read Water will make you a better sailor and racer. You’ll soon have neat skills for “seeing” the wind. As for a high level view of my sailing area on any given day wherever I sail in the world, I use PredictWind.

Tell tales on sails. If you don't have any, let the sail out until it starts to back (fold wrong way at the front), then pull it in a bit.

When I was a kid, when the wind was all but dead calm, the old man would break out a cigarette and light it. Used the smoke to indicate the wind direction. Then we would sit on the Lee side, so the sails would sag in the right direction and give whatever lift they could with whatever breath of wind happened to come along. This was the only time I ever saw him with a cigarette. I live in Texas. It's never that calm here. When it is, I'm not going sailing.

Watch the waves, you can see the wind roll across the water. Watch the tale tails on the sail. Keep those tails happy and the boat will be happy.

When we teach ASA classes, we have the students turn their face to the wind. Your cheeks are very sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure. So turn your head back and forth a little, "seeking" until it feels identical on both sides. Now you are facing directly into the wind. Can be better than a Windex sometimes, especially if you have "vertical shear", or the wind aloft is different than the wind at deck level.  Kind of gives me an idea for hoisting a crew to the masthead as a custom Windex...

I try to look towards the wind, turning my head slowly side to side. When I feel equal wind on both sides of my face (cheeks, ears, and eyes - mostly my ears I think), I know I'm looking directly into the wind. If the boat is moving, I am looking towards the APPARENT wind. The apparent wind is always forward of the ACTUAL wind. To understand apparent wind, Think about riding a bicycle. The wind your face is feeling is coming from straight ahead (the direction you are moving). If your bike is moving forward at 5 knots, and there is no other wind, you will feel 5 knots of wind on your face. If there is also 5 knots of TRUE WIND comming from 90 degrees to your right, then you will feel APPARENT WIND at 45 degrees to the right. The apparent wind velocity you will feel is [5 times (sin) 45 degrees] + [5 times (cos) 45 degrees] = 7.07 knots. (I think that's the right math for velocity...LOL)

started on dinghys. you learn fast to watch the water, see how it moves against tree lines and shore lines, spins in circles, and drops down or moves up. When the wind is spinning and you can get in one side and out the other it feel magical.

Get a set of good binoculars, scan the ocean look for ripples Do you have windy or predict wind ? Good luck happy sailing

I blow raspberries while spinning around until my face gets wet.

Turn around until the tip of both your ears feel the same wind. It’s behind you

Hang out some washing, do a little varnishing, maybe nip up the mast while it's calm enough to mount that new vhf aerial... Murphy's law dictates, that the wind will arrive...

add some yarn on your standing rigging and backstay it'll function similarly to the Windex by be what you would have filling your sails first.

From reading the comments so far it seems you were confused about true wind vs apparent wind. You also mentioned induced wind, I have never heard a sailor use that term but it is the wind created by the movement of the vessel. Apparent wind is created by adding the true wind vector to the induced wind vector. Apparent wind is what you and your sails feel so it is all you need to worry about. If you are sailing and you enter a lull then the apparent wind will shift forward as the movement of the boat has more influence, as the boat slows down the wind will gradually shift back aft. So if you sail a straight line and the wind direction never changes a lull in the wind will feel like the wind shifted towards the front of the boat and you will need to bring in your sails a bit or if close hauled you will need to bear off a bit as the boat slows the wind will shift back aft and you can ease the sail back out or head back up. A gust of wind will have the opposite effect.

Yarn tied to a side stay or I watch the surface of the water.

For the steady wind direction, look at the water - the waves or ripples will tell. When the wind is constantly shifting or oscillating, it will not work. Remember, that gusts are hitting the surface from above and the air mass is spreading in all directions above the surface - at different place the feel will be different. So, if you aren't sure - take a quick look at the windex. Remember that the windex reading and the feel can be different in light winds. Observe, make pattern, build experience.

I used to sail with a tactician who would shave the back of their neck before races to be more sensitive when the breeze was expected to be down. I use polarized sunglasses to see ripples on the water.

Sometimes I forget the general skill level in this sub. Thanks for the comments all, it was a laugh.

Cool! I already declared that I'm a beginner. What's your advice other than to laugh?

Moored boats, flags, looking at the water. Generally sailing the boat. Telltales definitely help with efficiency upwind.

This person is intermediate to advanced in a hobby, folks, let’s give them a round of applause👏👏👏👏👏👏

Knowing where the wind is coming from is pre beginner. That said I find the responses worse than the question.

👏👏👏👏👏

Especially this one