> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://create-deep-seas.gitbook.io/create-deep-seas-wiki/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://create-deep-seas.gitbook.io/create-deep-seas-wiki/high-seas/mechanics/wind.md).

# Wind

Every sail runs on the wind, so it is worth knowing how it behaves. It is not random: it has a main direction that slowly turns over time, and a few things on top of it.

## Direction

* **Prevailing wind:** the whole world shares one main wind direction. It turns slowly, a little more every few minutes.
* **Local swings:** the world is cut into zones of 32x32 blocks. In each one the wind drifts a little away from the main direction, up to 12 degrees either way, and changes every few seconds.
* **Day and night:** the wind swings up to 20 degrees one way during the day and back the other way at night, like a sea breeze.
* **Storms:** during a thunderstorm the local swings get four times wider. The wind is all over the place.

A [Wind Vane](/create-deep-seas-wiki/high-seas/wind-vane.md) on your ship shows where it blows right now.

## Strength

The wind strength is multiplied by everything below.

| What                                 | Effect                                     |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| Rain                                 | +80%                                       |
| Thunderstorm                         | +160% on top of the rain                   |
| Gusts                                | up to 25% stronger or weaker, all the time |
| Over the ocean or a river            | 100%                                       |
| Over a beach                         | 85%                                        |
| Over plains and most land            | 70%                                        |
| Over forest, jungle or taiga         | 50%                                        |
| Over mountains and hills             | 35%                                        |
| At sea level                         | 60%                                        |
| 96 blocks above sea level and higher | 140%                                       |

Between sea level and 96 blocks up, the altitude bonus grows smoothly. An airship high in the sky gets a lot more wind than a boat on the water.

## Shelter

Terrain upwind steals the wind. The game looks 12 and 24 blocks upwind of the ship: if the ground there is higher than you, the wind drops, up to half its strength behind a cliff 24 blocks taller than you. Out in the open sea, nothing blocks it.

## Config

All of this is in the High Seas server config, under Wind:

* `baseWind` (1.0): the base strength everything else is measured against.
* `gustAmplitude` (0.25): how strong the gusts are. 0 gives a perfectly steady wind.
* `rainBoost` (0.8) and `thunderBoost` (1.6).
* `terrainShelter` (0.5): how much terrain can block. 0 turns shelter off.