Apparent wind direction is usually a red herring in this type of discussion It is useful if you want to explain what is happening from the perspective of someone IN the boat No as physics allows me I will continue to look at this from the stationary in comparison to the ground spectator viewpoint Otherwise that the ground is moving relative to the observer makes it more complicated our target point would be moving too Having thus being allowed to discard apparent wind where is the component of the wind pushing the vessel faster downwind than the wind itself There can not be one