Apparent Wind

I was reading a Patrick O'Brian book the other day, and the characters were talking about being on a lee shore, and how if the wind speed was too much or too little the boat would make leeway. The idea being if the true wind is light, the boat can't sail as close to the wind. If the wind is heavy, then the wave action hampers it from sailing close to the wind.

To simulate this, what if every turn where the wind is light or heavy, all ships in the yellow arc are moved one ruler width directly downwind without changing their orientation?

A superb idea Dobbs.
In our games if a ship is dismasted or surrenders, we do not remove it from play but for the remainder of the game it drifts one ruler thickness in the direction that the wind is blowing toward, unless a boarding party can control it.

This just adds yet another layer of fun to our idea. Best not get embayed.

Rob.