Hi Carl (@clipper): Today was a really nice day to be out. I was at my daughter's house waiting for a new washer to be delivered. That was a fun 4 hours. As far as wind goes, it is probably the same in a boat as it is flying an airplane. If there is a crosswind, you have to turn the nose a degree or two into the wind to hold a heading. If you slow down, like during final approach, you have to turn the nose into the wind even more to compensate for the loss of speed. I am sure the higher the sides of your boat, the more effect the wind has on it.