Sternwinde

Sternwinde is a German compound noun that can refer to more than one concept in maritime contexts, depending on usage. The term can be understood in two primary senses, with the exact meaning determined by the source.

One sense is a nautical device: a stern winch. In shipboard equipment, a stern winch is a mechanical apparatus mounted near the stern used to haul in or pay out mooring lines, towing lines, or fishing gear. Stern winches may be operated manually, hydraulically, or electrically and typically include a drum, a braking system, a drive mechanism, and controls on the deck. On smaller vessels the gear aids in docking and securing the stern lines; on larger ships it can support rigging and handling operations performed from the aft area.

The other sense involves wind direction relative to a vessel. In nautical language, wind coming from behind a vessel is commonly described as a tailwind and is more often referred to in German as Achterwind or Wind von achtern. Some texts or colloquial usages may encounter the term Sternwind or Sternwinde, but these are not standard meteorological terms. When used, they usually indicate wind from the stern rather than a formal technical designation.

Overall, Sternwinde is not a single, standardized term with a universal definition in modern maritime literature. Its meaning is contextual, most often aligning with either stern-related winching equipment or, less commonly, with a description of wind direction from the rear.

See also: Windlass, Winch, Wind direction, Stern (ship).