DSK wrote:
Jeff wrote:
.... If the wind and the current is the same speed and direction,
then the boat (and all other boats in the vicinity) feel no wind - it
will effectively be flat calm, and the alleged collision could not
happen.


Are you saying that if the wind and current are from the same direction
at the same speed, then boats could not sail?!??!!

Think it over Jeff, a guy who is familiar with applying Maxwell's
equations... much less one with your experience... ought to know the
answer.

Fresh Breezes (and currents)- Doug King


Oh No! You've caused me to have Doubt!!!

Let's see - I'm sitting on my sailfish drifting south in a 2 knot
current. I blow a soap bubble and let it loose in a 2 knot true
breeze from the North. It drifts in the wind, headed south at 2 knots.
It sure seems like that soap bubble will sit over my boat. If the
apparent wind is not strong enough to blow a soap bubble into my sail,
I'd have to say I'm becalmed.

Let me try again. The true wind is 20 mph. I get in my XKE
convertible and drive 20 mph downwind. My daughter tries to fly a
kite from the passenger seat, but with zero apparent wind fails.

Again: I'm headed south to the Vineyard. Being a lazy SOB I'm
running both engines doing 8 knots. My wind indicator says zero knots
apparent. What's the true wind? What would happen if I raised sail
but kept the engines running? Why is this any different from being in
a southerly current?

What am I missing? (and I hope you're not referring back to the
kinetics discussion)