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Vic, Gary, Philip and others,

Thanks for the replies.

I note that all (most?) persons who answered my query appear to be in
the northern hemisphere. The term "backing" has always appeared to be
used when noting that the wind has moved in an anticlockwise direction
and thus the weather will be deteriorating (preceding a low pressure
cell). However, in the southern hemisphere, the opposite is expected
when the wind changes anticlockwise. When I started researching the
term, all the British publications say the wind direction is changing in
an anticlockwise direction, full stop. But Bowditch claims that the
direction is opposite (clockwise) in the southern hemisphere. I have now
checked a few more US publications and they too claim that the direction
is different in the northern hemisphere to that in the southern
hemisphere. Who is correct?

John Titterton
Cape Town



-----Original Message-----
From: Navigation Mailing List
[mailto:NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM] On Behalf Of Philip Ouvry
Sent: 24 January 2003 20:58
To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
Subject: Re: Naming Ships

Incidentally veering is when the wind changes in a clockwise direction,
ie
north to northeast.     Backing is the reverse, ie north to northwest.

Best wishes.

Philip Ouvry

   

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