Weather side

See windward side — the side of the boat the wind strikes first.

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Related W-terms

Wind generator

A mast- or pole-mounted propeller-driven turbine that converts apparent-wind energy into b…

Whisker pole

A light spar temporarily set between the mast and the clew of a poled-out jib to hold it s…

Waypoint

A position — latitude and longitude — stored in a GPS or chartplotter and used as a step i…

Watermaker

A reverse-osmosis desalinator that forces seawater through a semi-permeable membrane at hi…

Working sheet

The leeward sheet carrying load — the one actually trimming the sail at that moment.

Winch

A drum with a handle (manual) or motor (electric/hydraulic) that provides mechanical advan…

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