Apparent wind indicator

An apparent wind indicator, as found on sailboat, is a small weather vane or arrow that gives an indication of the current apparent wind direction. This indication allows the skipper to set their sails or their course for best performance, according to the points of sail.

The device is often referred to as a Windex.

Examples of modern apparent wind indicators for dinghies and open keelboats

References

Sails, spars and rigging

Rigs	Bermuda rig Cat rig Full rig Gaff rig Junk rig Ljungström rig Mast aft rig

Sail types	Asymmetrical spinnaker Junk sail Lug sail Parafoil Ringtail Spinnaker Turbosail Rotorsail Wingsail

Sails (sail plan)	Blooper Course Crab claw Driver Extra Fisherman Foresail Genoa Gennaker Jib Lateen Mainsail Moonraker Royal Skysail Screecher Spanker Spinnaker Spritsail Staysail Studding Topgallant Topsail Trysail Watersail

Sail anatomy and materials	Bolt rope Clew Foot Head Leech Luff Roach Tack Throat Peak Dacron Technora Kevlar Twaron

Spars	Boom Bowsprit Boomkin Dolphin striker a/k/a Martingale Pelican striker Fore-mast Gaff Jackstaff Jibboom Jigger-mast Jury rigging Main-mast Mast Mizzen-mast Truck Spinnaker pole Spreader Sprit Topmast Yard

Rigging components	Backstay Block Bobstay Boomkicker Braces Buntlines Chainplates Cleat Clevis pin Clewlines Cunningham Deadeye Downhaul Earing Fairlead Forestay Gasket Gooseneck Gunter Guy Halyard Kicker Lazy jack Outhaul Parrel beads Peak Preventer Ratlines Running rigging Shackle Spinnaker chute Standing rigging Sheet Shroud Stay mouse Stays Throat Topping lift Trapeze Traveller Turnbuckle Vang Windex

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