Definition

1. Adjective:
   • (Of a sailing vessel): Describes a ship or boat that is capable of sailing very close to the direction from which the wind is blowing (close-hauled) without being pushed sideways (making leeway) to a significant degree. A weatherly vessel is efficient at making progress to windward.

Usage

• The term is a technical nautical adjective used primarily to describe the sailing characteristics and performance of a vessel, especially in relation to its design and handling in windward conditions.
• It is typically used in comparative contexts (e.g., more weatherly, less weatherly) or to state a quality.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The new sloop design is remarkably weatherly, allowing it to point higher into the wind than its competitors.
  • A weatherly yacht is a great advantage when racing on an upwind leg of the course.
  • Older, full-keel designs are often less weatherly than modern fin-keel boats.

Advanced Usage

• The concept of being weatherly is central to sailing performance and hull design. It involves a combination of factors including hull shape, keel design, and sail plan.
• In historical naval contexts, a weatherly ship had a significant tactical advantage, as it could gain the "weather gage" (the upwind position) against an opponent.

Variants and Related Words

• Weatherliness (n): The quality or characteristic of being weatherly.
  • The boat's weatherliness impressed the entire racing crew.

Synonyms

• Close-winded: Able to sail close to the wind.
• Windwardly: Effective at sailing to windward (less common).

Antonyms

• Lee-going: Tending to drift downwind.
• Unweatherly: Not capable of sailing well to windward.

Adjective

1. (of a sailing vessel) making very little leeway when close-hauled