An apparent wind indicator, as found on

sailboat A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails and is smaller than a sailing ship. Distinctions in what constitutes a sailing boat and ship vary by region and maritime culture. Types Although sailboat terminolo ...

, is a small

weather vane A wind vane, weather vane, or weathercock is an instrument used for showing the direction of the wind. It is typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building. The word ''vane'' comes from the Old English word , m ...

or arrow that gives an indication of the current

apparent wind Apparent wind is the wind experienced by a moving object. Definition of apparent wind The ''apparent wind'' is the wind experienced by an observer in motion and is the relative velocity of the wind in relation to the observer. The ''velocity o ...

direction. This indication allows the skipper to set their sails or their course for best performance, according to the points of sail. The device is often referred to as a ''Windex'', which is a trademark owned by Davis Instruments url=https://www.davisinstruments.com/.

Examples of modern apparent wind indicators for dinghies and open keelboats

References

{{Sailing ship elements Sailing equipment