The
weather gage (sometimes spelled
weather gauge) is the advantageous position of a fighting
sailing vessel relative to another. The concept is from the
Age of Sail, and is now largely antiquated. A ship at sea is said to possess the weather gage if it is in any position upwind of the other vessel. Close proximity with the land, tidal and stream effects, and
wind variability due to geography (hills, cliffs, etc.) may also come into play.