Do aircraft carriers always face into the wind?
During flight operations, the aircraft carrier strives to maintain 30 knots of wind down the angle of the flight deck.  Generally speaking, the carrier will adjust its speed and course through the ocean to maintain the desired winds.  However, shifting winds and the sheer magnitude of the carrier may mean that the winds are generally down the angle, but may involve a crosswind component.  Also, the structure of the carrier, because of its enormous size, actually influences the flow of the wind, and can create pockets of low pressure in the approach where high sink rates can develop.