A note on Shifts and Gusts, and the Skill Levels

 

 

Wind speed and direction are determined by an average direction and speed (such as NW, 20 knots) which is what people usually refer to as "the wind" in SL.   Thats the average over time.  But having constant, unchanging, wind - while helpful to Novices -is not so excting for old(er) salts.  So the WWC wind algorithms continually calculate the wind by applying "shifts" (to wind direction) and "gusts" (to wind speed).   So along with the average wind direction and speed, we also specify the maximum shifts and gusts.

Example:  wind direction & speed = NW 20 knots, shifts & gusts 5 deg, 10%

the wind will vary between 310 and 320 degrees, and 18 and 22 knots.  Approximately  (Dont ask!)

 

The main page has a table showing the effect of the different 'skill levels'.   When you use one of the Auto wind settings the weather scenario you get is randomly generated, within a range. 

The scenario is a set of average direction & speed, max shifts & gusts, current directon & speed, wave height

So for example in Competition level:

The average wind speed will be between 14 & 24 knots, with gusts between 6 and 16% (so the wind speed could get as high as 18 knots), etc etc