Posted by Patrick Fox on December 17, 2002 at 11:43:13 from 141.163.195.189 user pfox.
In Reply to: Re: Waggle in Wake posted by Astronomer_Guy on December 15, 2002 at 18:34:52:
I don't have a lot to add to the other comments on this thread. But I used to sail my Mirror dinghy from a little slipway at one side of Bowness Bay. Certainly, once clear of the islands either to the north or the south, the wind tended to be pretty steady. Although westerlies in particular would tend to go a bit slack in the lee of the high ground close to the western shore.
Among the islands, though, it was always very gusty. In particular, it was on Windermere that I first learnt how the wind tends to "bend" around an island, so that a beam reach becomes a broad reach as you enter the lee of the island, then the wind disappears altogether and you drift ever so slowly towards the ruffled water on the other side, Then the first swirling gusts hit you as you near the far edge, always with much more force than before and seemingly from almost in front. A few frantic moments with the mainsheet and the tiller, and leaning out as far as you dare before they drop as quickly as they started, nearly pitching you over the windward gunwhale as all resistance to your leaning out is lost! And then the wind comes back steadily, but now you're close hauled, and can gradually ease the sheets as you come out beyond the island and the wind comes back on the beam.
As to waggles in the wake, I too wonder if this is a naval / big ship tradition of holding a course to keep a good dead reckoning plot which Ransome is perpetuating in a "make-believe" situation where it's no longer entirely appropriate - just as other things they do (dipping the ensign at the steamer, perhaps) are borrowed from the traditions of larger vessels. I would agree that beginner helms tend to make large curves as their attention wanders, not really "waggles".
Cheers
Patrick