March 6, 2003

Wind Tricks

Some people are surprised to learn that even a lee shore can provide some relief from the wind. Not as much as a windward shore, but if it is the only choice, it can provide some relief.

There is often confusion of which shore is the lee shore. It is easy to assume if the wind is out of the North, and there are trees along the North shore providing a place near shore where the wind is not blowing, that this is the lee shore. Not so. A lee is a direction, not a protected area from the wind. Sitting in the middle of the river, the windward shore is the shore up wind from your location, and the lee shore is the shore downwind of your location. Usually, the lee shore is windier than the windward shore.

Still with me? But a lee shore *can* provide some relief from the wind. As the wind rushes across the water towards shore, tall trees, high cliffs or even houses built near shore, these objects can help hold the wind back, causing it to rise up over these tall items and create an area that is less windy near the lee shore. However, you also have to be careful as the shallow water in near shore can also cause any waves to grow larger. I've often found myself working a fine balance between the larger waves and the decreased wind.