Nautical Term: Beam wind

Definition of Beam wind

Beam wind refers to a wind direction that is perpendicular to a vessel’s course. In simpler terms, it is the wind that blows at a ship’s side, rather than from behind or ahead.

For instance, consider a sailing vessel navigating in the open sea. As the wind shifts directions, the captain might notice that the wind is now blowing at the side of the ship. In such a situation, the captain would need to adjust the sail plan accordingly to make the most of the beam wind.

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