🔍 Key Concepts

• Wind against current vs. wind with current and how each affects wave height and steepness • How mariners often estimate wind speed from sea state (wave height, whitecaps, spray) • The idea of the sea surface giving you an appearance that may differ from the true wind speed

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens to wave height and steepness when the current is flowing in the same direction as the wind. Do the waves get steeper or more gentle? • If the waves are smaller and less steep than usual for that wind speed, how might that mislead your visual estimate of the wind? • Ask yourself: are you likely to overestimate or underestimate the true wind speed when the sea looks smoother than normal for that wind?

✅ Before You Answer

• Compare in your mind: same wind speed with no current versus with a favorable (same-direction) current—which case gives a rougher sea? • Decide whether a smoother sea would make you think the wind is stronger or weaker than it really is. • Eliminate any options that claim there is no relationship between wind and sea state. That is not consistent with basic seamanship.