Why true wind angle matters offshore

Why true wind angle is the core offshore reference, and when apparent wind still matters and why. Report by Yacht Racing Performance Coach Stuart Greenfield:

After the Morgan Cup, one of the crew asked me a very good question about why I normally want TWA, True Wind Angle, as one of the core numbers on the mast instruments offshore, when many sailors, especially those who race inshore, are more used to looking at AWA, Apparent Wind Angle.

His logic was perfectly sound. The sails are trimmed to the wind they actually feel, and that wind is apparent wind. The telltales, leech, twist, sheet load, helm balance, and the general feel of the boat all respond to apparent wind, so it is completely understandable that someone coming from a lot of inshore racing would expect AWA to be the main number in front of the helm.

But offshore, the job of the instruments is slightly different. – Full report