Wind shift from stern toward bow is known as?

• A. Header
• B. Lift
• C. Clocking wind
• D. Backing wind

Answer: (A)

When wind shifts toward the bow, you call it a header. This term describes the wind coming from a more forward direction relative to the boat, so the sails feel the wind more from ahead and you may need to trim sails differently and possibly head up to maintain speed. The other terms don’t fit this situation: lift is the aerodynamic force on the sails, not a change in wind direction; clocking wind refers to a gradual rotation of wind direction around the compass and isn’t the specific frontward shift described here; and backing (the opposite shift toward the stern) is not what’s described in this scenario.