What's wrong with this picture?
 

What's wrong with this picture?

http://home.comcast.net/~markshot/tempimages/2way.jpg

The funnel smoke and flag are blowing in opposite directions! :)

You ain't seen nothin' yet. The flag flies like that even when the ship's back has been broken, and that piece is slipping under vertically, backwards. I'm guessing the flag is an independent visual, having nothing to do with wind speed or direction.

Well, is SH4 smoke dependent on wind speed and motion or just motion?

In SH3, it was just motion. So, the plumes always gave away the direction of travel.

The flags are always pointed backward no matter the conditions nad have no environmental effects.

From my experience, the smoke is tightly tied to environment and is reliable.
Even while sinking and ship is stopped, smoke will trail if there is wind.
-Pv-

Although the flag still seems to wave around wildly as if there was wind, even when the ship has sunk.