It has to do with apparent wind. If you are on a beam reach and your sails are trimmed properly, the wind vane will be angled less than 90 degrees, more like 45 or 55 degrees. You have to picture the boat as it's moving. Both the wind from behind you and the wind created by moving forward work together to move the vane to 90 degrees.
This is the toughest part of sailing for me so,
1)I understand a Beam Reach as going 90 to the wind.
There would not be wind from behind
Question: Is that true wind or apparent wind?
(Assuming constant winds)
If it is true wind, than once you are at max speed, sails are set and your just crusing right?
If a beam reach is 90 to the apparent wind, wouldn't you just keep going in circles? As the apparent wind changes you have to change course to stay 90 to it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
