When making sternway, how does the stern tend to the wind?

• A. Bow seeks the wind
• B. Stern seeks the wind
• C. Bow points into the wind
• D. Stern faces away from wind

Answer: (B)

When you are making sternway, the vessel is backing, so the stern is the end interacting with the wind. The wind pushes on the exposed surfaces, and the end with more windage tends to yaw toward the wind. Since backing increases the stern’s windage exposure relative to the bow, the stern naturally turns to face the wind while the bow falls leeward. This weather-vaning tendency is why the stern tends to the wind when you back the ship.