Becalmed Meaning in Sailing

A boat becomes becalmed when the wind stops blowing and the vessel loses its motion. The sails hang limp and the boat sits still on the flat water surface. This condition often happens during hot summer days or in areas of low atmospheric pressure. Without wind energy the rudder cannot steer the boat in any specific desired direction. Sailors must wait for a new breeze or use a motor to reach land. An example involves a sailboat drifting slowly in the middle of a glassy lake. The crew cannot move toward the dock because the air remains perfectly still. Patience becomes necessary as the boat waits for the next shift in the local weather. Some sailors use this quiet time to perform maintenance on the deck or rigging. Being becalmed requires the crew to monitor the horizon for signs of incoming wind ripples.