As we all know, the wind is the most important element that propels the boat forward. Sometimes in the total absence of the wind, a boat will not be able to sail. So, what do you do when the wind doesn’t seem to be blowing and the air isn’t moving? When it comes to sailing, the momentum created by the wind is what propels your sailboat forward. Although a complete lack of wind is physically impossible on the water, it can happen. And, you will wonder what to do with your sailboat, which mostly uses the power of the wind. There are, of course, some ways to sail without the use of the wind. In this article, I will list all possible ways in which you can continue sailing without the help of the wind. So, keep reading!

Know the Winds

• Becalmed Wind: In case you can’t get any real momentum and there’s no wind on the water because it’s blocked by land the wind is “becalmed”. In this case, your sails are slack and your boat will drift along. When you’re out on the ocean and your sails suddenly deflate, it means you’re becalmed. This is a technique used by racers in sailing in order to make the opposing rival ineffective for a short period of time. If one boat passes too near to another, the original sailboat’s sails may render ineffective. This tactic gave rise to the phrase “to take the wind out of someone’s sails.” So, when there isn’t enough wind to fill the sails and move the sailboat, the term “becalmed” is commonly used to describe a vessel’s situation on open sea outside of racing circles.
• Offshore and Onshore Winds: The same rules apply to these winds as they do to easterly and westerly winds. Offshore wind occurs when the wind blows away from the shore and out to sea. Windward beaches are the coastlines where these winds blow. On the other hand, onshore wind occurs when the wind blows from the sea toward the coast. The lee shore is the part of the beach where the onshore wind blows. Note that when sailing and approaching a lee shore in an onshore breeze, be cautious because sudden changes can force you to go aground. As a result, sailing to a windward shore will allow you to better manage your sails.
• Easterly and Westerly: Winds are known as easterlies when they move from east to west. Westerlies are wind patterns that move from west to east. Note that there are winds as a result of pressure variations. The Coriolis effect has an impact on wind direction as well. Winds travelling from the equator to the North Pole and from the North Pole to the equator are deflected to the right due to Coriolis Force. And, winds flowing north-south and south-north in the southern hemisphere are deflected to the left due to Coriolis Force. The magnitude of the deflection, often known as the “Coriolis effect,” varies greatly depending on latitude.
• True Wind and Apparent Wind: True wind is the true speed and direction of the wind blowing as perceived by a stationary observer. He may be at sea level or at the top of the mast, but the wind speed and direction are the TRUE wind speed and direction as long as the boat is completely still. The apparent wind is the wind speed and direction as perceived by an observer, who does not need to be motionless. Keep in mind that this can make a significant difference.
• Knots: This refers to the wind speed at sea. We talk about wind in miles per hour when we’re on the shore. However, on the water (and in aviation), wind is measured in knots (abbreviated as kn). One knot is about equal to one statue mile per hour multiplied by 1.15. Knots are directly related to the latitude measurement system. A ship moves one minute of latitude to sail one knot. The knot system is linked to the process of giving navigational instructions in latitude and longitude.
• Sailing Downwind: It’s simple to comprehend how to sail downwind or parallel to the wind. In other words, the wind blows into the sails and pushes against them. The air is decelerated by the sails because the wind is quicker than the boat. Because the sails push back against the wind, the wind pushes the sails ahead. The catch for a boat with regular sails is that, even with a spinnaker, you can only sail faster than the wind downwind. This can be comfortable sailing but not the most exciting.
• Sailing Upwind: Sailing upwind or exactly anti-parallel to the wind is equally easy to grasp. Sailing upwind is possible, but sailing directly into the wind is not. A tack is a movement in which the bow of a sailboat rotates through the wind direction. And also forcing the boat to shift direction from pointing diagonally upwind with the wind on one side of the boat to the other side of the boat. Boats can sail at 40° to the wind and with tacking you can easily go anywhere.  

How to Sail without Wind?

• Using the motor: The first strategy is the simplest and most obvious. Meaning that in case there’s no wind and you’re on the sea you will have to use the motor in order to move the boat. To fill your sails you must wait for the right time to find some wind or create your own with the motion created by the motor. Keep in mind that if you don’t have oars or a motor to the propeller, you might not go anywhere.
• Use weight distribution: The water’s current may generate enough wind to make your cruising sail more effective if you bring everyone to the front of the boat to nudge the bow down and elevate the stern a little.
• Rely on propellers: If your sailboat has motor propellers, it will be rather simple to move it even when there are no winds. The propeller propels the sailboat ahead by redirecting a portion of the forward energy back to the propeller. It also causes the propeller to blow backward. This, in turn, generates more energy and push in a domino effect or an amplifying loop.
• Use a fan or pump the rudder: Some people believe that employing a swamp boat-style fan can be beneficial. However, the key to this strategy is to direct the fan away from the sails. In addition, moving your rudder back and forth will create some movement, which therefore will create wind that your sail may capture.
• Row your boat: Using your oars to move the boat forward is an option but it is really tiring and it will only work if you have a small sailboat.
• Stay calm and wait for the wind: Well, if you’re somehow stuck and none of the above solutions is applicable what you can do is just enjoy the moment! Consider leaving your cruising sail up to catch the light breeze if it happens to come your way. You can also choose to drop anchor and lower your sail. In either case, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of your surrounding.

Tricks on How to Sail without Wind

When the wind becomes light we must keep the knots up. And, sometimes it is preferable not to use the engine. Keeping the boat moving in light winds can be a lot of fun, especially if you use the tactics and strategies you learned as a dinghy sailor. So, consider applying the below-mentioned tricks and you might even make port without using the ignition.

The Tides

A knot or so of the tide can make all the difference between making headway and going backward. Especially when ghosting along in light airs. However, while tide tables, tidal stream atlases, and the tide prediction tools on most chart plotters appear to be accurate, they are all prone to weather-related inaccuracies and omissions. This is because the elements are too small to show up on small-scale maps. To determine the strength and direction of the tidal stream, compare your course and speed on land as shown by your GPS. And, compare them with your course and speed on water (as reported by your log and compass).

When confronted with an opposing tide, the basic guideline is to go as near the coast as possible. The speed of the foul tide lowers in shallow water. And this happens even if you don’t pick up a back eddy or counter-current. It pays to stay out in deeper water, where the tide flows quicker and when the tide is in your favor.

Sea Breezes

On warm days with modest winds from any direction, the wind will often increase in the afternoon and stop at dusk as the land heats and cools. So, don’t rush your breakfast! This is because the sailing will almost always be better later. Clear skies and a light offshore breeze at breakfast time are ideal circumstances for a sea breeze in the spring and summer. There will most likely be a brief period of quiet. But, keep an eye out for puffy white cumulus clouds forming above the shore, signaling the start of the sea wind circulation. As the onshore sea breeze settles in, the clouds will migrate inland. And, the sea breeze will most likely veer (turn clockwise) during the afternoon. Note that sea breezes become stronger near the coast but you can also feel them at around 10 miles offshore.

Tidal Winds

Tidal streams not only move you in the direction they flow, but they also produce apparent wind. Consider yourself on a mooring with no wind and a four-knot tidal stream. You don’t feel any wind, but if you let go of the mooring and drift downstream at four knots, you’ll be passing through a mass of motionless air. This gives the impression of a four-knot wind blowing against the tide. You won’t be able to move against the tide with this tidal breeze. But, a four-knot Force 2 will provide you some control.

The combination of the true wind plus the tidal wind can easily add up to a nice sail. Especially when there is a few knots of real wind flowing against the tide. Keep the tide on your lee bow if you’re beating across the tidal stream to make the most of the tidal wind. It pays to be on starboard tack while the tide is running west on a cross-channel passage beating into a southerly wind. Then tack into port when the tide turns.

Shape your Course

Although most chart plotters have tidal data, only a few of them can use it to calculate the best course to steer. At low speeds, it’s even more vital to use classic chartwork or the “one in sixty rule” to shape your course. Like this, you will avoid ending up down-tide of your objective. The one in sixty rule is a basic mathematics formula that states: Tide speed x 60 Boat speed = course correction. To determine an average when the tidal stream is changing, as it would on a longer voyage, sum all the tidal streams in one direction. Then subtract all the tidal streams in the other direction and divide by the entire duration.

Carry Lightweight Sails

Note that a sail known as a ‘drifter’ is frequently used by racers. They use this spinnaker on any point of sail, from a close reach to a run in Force 1–2. For this reason, cruisers used to buy used racing spinnakers or hang on to an old No 1 genoa. Some people still carry a drifter as a precautionary measure in case the wind drops at an inopportune time.

Because the genoa is the primary driving sail on most cruising boats, the primary goal is to make sure you’re using the headsail’s force to propel the boat forward rather than sideways. It’s quite easy to over-tension everything without the weight of the wind extending the sail, sheet, and halyard, flattening the sail, and reducing the sheeting angle. It may allow you to point higher, but it will slow down your boat. It’s exactly the opposite of what we desire in light airs. So, loosen the halyard in order to remove horizontal or star-shaped wrinkles on the luff. Ease the sheet as well: when beating in light winds, aim to keep the sail’s leech the same distance from the spreaders as when beating in normal conditions.

In mild breezes, the same principles apply to the mainsail. However, it’s very simple to overuse the rule of thumb that states “slacken everything.” Looking up at the top batten from under the windward side of the boom is a nice place to start. The aft section of the batten should be parallel to the boom. Or, slanted slightly downwind of it regardless of the wind strength. The leech is too tight if the end of the batten is jutting up to windward, so loosen the kicker and bring the mainsheet traveller to the centreline or even to windward.

Understand the Wind in Relation to your Boat

When you’re sailing you must take an active role in bringing together and harnessing the power that propels the sailboat forward, which in this case is the wind. The boat will not move forward until the winds are in your sails. Instead, you’ll just float around in a state of neutrality. Worse, you could also capsize. As a result, understanding how the wind works in moving a sailboat and what you can do without it is critical. Aerodynamics refers to the force of the wind on the sails. This can move the sailboat by lifting it in the same manner as the wind lifts an airplane wing. In general, the wind that lifts and pushes the sailboat generally contains sideways force and small forward force. Therefore you should adjust the sails properly to encounter the least amount of resistance.

Make Use of the Hydrodynamics

As a matter of fact, it’s impossible to be out on the sea and have no wind at all to propel your boat. However, even if this occurs, you may rely on the heat transfer from the warm to the cold zones to create some type of hydrodynamics or flow. This will then create currents to move your sailboat, albeit not as effectively as the winds.

In terms of relativity, powerful winds may not be of much use in propelling your sailboat if they are accompanied by minor currents. Similarly, strong currents combined with light winds may be insufficient to propel a sailboat. Many modern sailboats, on the other hand, are designed in such a way that they can function normally even when there are strong currents and light breezes. The most crucial thing is to make sure your boat’s sails are aligned with the existing strong currents. Bear in mind that many modern sailboats are built using hydrodynamic engineering techniques. These can simulate 15-knot winds even when the currents are 15 knots.

The only difference may be that, in addition to the typical sailing speed, you must additionally manage 15 knots of currents in the opposite direction. This explanation may appear complicated at first, but it’s actually rather simple. While there’s no wind and you’re trying to sail with the current, you’re technically sailing upwind. Therefore you’ll need to employ the same strategies as you would when sailing upwind.

The Bottom Line

So, yes, it is possible for a sailboat to move in the total absence of the wind. The solutions include using your motor, propellers, use weight distribution, row the boat, and rely on tidal winds and sea breezes. Moreover, if you carry lightweight sheets and sails and shape a proper course the odds will be in your favor. In case you can’t apply any of the solutions and you’re stuck in the middle of the sea, which is unlikely, you can just relax and enjoy the moment! But, keep in mind that this is a very rare situation. Lastly, yes sailboats are able to move without the help of the wind but not so efficiently as they would with the use of the wind.