Leeway Meaning in Sailing

Leeway represents the sideways drift of a boat caused by the pressure of the wind or current. Because a sailboat is pushed from the side, it rarely travels in a perfectly straight line relative to where the bow is pointing; it ‘slips’ slightly downwind. Sailors must calculate this angle of leeway and adjust their steering to ensure they arrive at their intended destination. One specific example involves a navigator adding five degrees to their course to compensate for a strong crosswind pushing them off track. Boats with deep, efficient keels experience much less leeway than those with shallow hulls. Monitoring leeway is a vital part of traditional navigation, especially when sailing close-hauled toward a narrow harbor entrance.