When a vessel is drifting in calm water, it is most likely to lie with which part facing the wind?

When a vessel is drifting in calm water, it generally lies with its beam facing the wind. This position occurs due to the influences of wind and currents. In this scenario, with the wind acting on the beam (the side of the vessel), the boat will tend to pivot. This causes the bow and the stern to swing and orient themselves, but the vessel stabilizes into a position where the beam is exposed to the wind.

The behavior of a drifting vessel is influenced by its shape and the distribution of forces from the wind. The wind impacts the larger horizontal surface area of the beam more directly compared to the bow or stern, facilitating a more stable equilibrium in which the vessel naturally arranges itself in this manner.

Choosing to lie with the bow, stern, or starboard side towards the wind would generally not provide the stability found when the beam is positioned into the wind, as those orientations could lead to increased instability or turning of the vessel, depending on the wind strength and direction. Thus, the correct understanding of wind dynamics in relation to a drifting vessel guides us to the conclusion that the beam facing the wind is the most likely scenario.