leeward
Away from gusts
Leeward describes the side or direction sheltered from the wind—the opposite of windward.
On a ship, the leeward side faces away from where the wind is blowing, providing relative calm.
The term extends to islands, coastlines, and any situation where something blocks wind: We anchored on the leeward side of the reef.
As a noun, leeward refers to this sheltered direction or area.
Sailors and meteorologists use it constantly; everyone else encounters it mainly in geography, as in the Leeward Islands.
Place of safety
- havenShelter from danger
- harborSafe anchorage for ships
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- protectedKept from harm
shielded · cover · calm · tucked · nestled · snug · anchorage · cove
Perpendicular to keel
- asternToward a vessel's rear
- abaftToward a vessel's rear
- amidshipsAt a vessel's center
- foreToward the front
aft · bow · stern · quarter · aloft · bearing · heading · downwind
Wind-propelled water travel
- tackSharp-headed fastener
- jibeAgree or correspond
- helmVessel's steering mechanism
- yachtLarge pleasure vessel
regatta · schooner · ketch · catamaran · trimaran · marina · skipper · seafaring
Severe atmospheric disturbance
- galeSevere sustained wind
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
squall · tempest · monsoon · trade winds · westerlies · doldrums · barometer · foul weather
refuge
Place of safety
protected · shielded · cover · calm · tucked · nestled · snug · anchorage · cove · breakwater
abeam
Perpendicular to keel
fore · aft · bow · stern · quarter · aloft · bearing · heading · downwind · upwind
sailing
Wind-propelled water travel
yacht · regatta · schooner · ketch · catamaran · trimaran · marina · skipper · seafaring · anchorage
storm
Severe atmospheric disturbance
cyclone · squall · tempest · monsoon · trade winds · westerlies · doldrums · barometer · foul weather · gusts
Caribbean
Tropical Atlantic region
- AntillesCaribbean island arc
- ArubaDutch Caribbean island nation
- CuraçaoDutch Caribbean constituent country
Bonaire · tropics · archipelago · West Indies
- nauticalanchor, anchor chain, anchors, boat, boats
- sailingsailboat, sailing, sails, sailboats, catamaran
- directionsnorth, south, east, west, left
- dunessand dune, blowout, crests, dune formation, coastal dunes
- Mountain Climatehigh altitude, thin air, altitude, snowfall, temperature extremes
- nautical directionsport, starboard, bow, stern, fore
leewardwindward
Facing the wind
exposed · wind-swept · unprotected · windy · stormy
- give leewayAllow margin for error
- leeward sideDirection opposite the wind
- leeward coastSide away from prevailing wind