What is apparent wind?

Apparent wind is what the Maretron WSO100 measures and doesn’t necessarily reflect what the wind is truly doing. For example, if the vessel was moving at exactly 5 knots and the wind was blowing in the exact opposite direction at 5 knots, then the WSO100 measured, or apparent, wind speed would be 10 knots. Thus the name apparent, because the wind is apparently blowing at 10 knots. Maretron display products (DSM150, DSM200, DSM250, and N2KView) always show apparent wind referenced to the bow of the vessel. In other words, you see the angle at which the apparent wind is striking the vessel relative to the bow of the vessel.