While computer modeling the wind shift frequency I had another thought:

Many natural phenomenon, including wind direction, follow something of a power law.
That is, small changes are frequent larger changes less frequent at an exponential rate of decreasing frequency.

A 45 degree change in wind direction is a very big thing.
The likelihood of a wind change this large on the open ocean during the time interval covered by the game is fairly remote.
Probably far more remote than once every 9 turns.

I wonder if Ares thought about making the wind changes less drastic but still of strategic significance (like maybe 22 1/2 degrees, aka 1 point) before settling on "45 degrees or nothing" shifts as a game element?