WindCor

Apparent Wind Corrections — Heel & Leeway   (Subscript m = measured value; subscript c = corrected value)
Starpath School of Navigation

Inputs

Results — Three Correction Levels
Parameter No Corrections + Heel Correction + Heel & Leeway
Press “Compute” to see results

Equation Reference

Heel Corrections to AW

AWAc = atan2[ sin(AWAm), cos(AWAm)·cos(heel) ]
AWSc = AWSm · √[ cos²(AWAm) + sin²(AWAm)/cos²(heel) ]
When heeled, the vane axis tilts so the athwartship wind component is reduced by cos(heel). Both AWAm and AWSm read too small. atan2 form handles all AWA quadrants (including downwind > 90°).

Leeway & Course Through Water

LWY = K · heel / STWm²
CTW = HDG + LWY
STWc = STWm / cos(LWY)
K ≈ 9–16 for typical sailboats. The signs of LWY and Heel are the opposite to sign of AWA. STWc is the actual track speed; the knotmeter reads the centerline component.

True Wind (relative to water)

TW = AW − BWwater
BW = (STWm, HDG)    [col 1&2]
BW = (STWc, CTW) [col 3]
TWA = angle of TWD off bow  ( col 1&2)
TWA = angle of TWD off CTW ( col 3)
AW absolute direction: AWD = HDG + AWAm [col 1], AWD = HDG + AWAc [col 2&3]. Note: AWD uses HDG (not CTW) because the sensor is on the mast, oriented to the centerline.

Current, Ground Wind & Height

Current = BWground − BWwater
GW = AW − BWground
BWground = (SOG, COG)   [all cols]
GWS10 = GWS · (10/H)α
Ground wind (GW) is independent of leeway because SOG/COG and corrected AWD do not depend on how the boat tracks through the water. GWS10 adjusts to 10 m reference height; α ≈ 0.11 (open sea).