I am familiar with the drift rules in WSIM, but in this site, those rules are not implemented as they were written. Therefore I share the opinion of Scotireb that they should be made optional.

I was in a game that employed the drift rules and quite frankly it made the game completely unmanageable. Ships with intact sails drifting helplessly unable to control movement because dismasted hulks (that were not fouled) continuously blocked the ability of those ships to alter their facing to put the wind in a more favourable aspect. The drift rules ruined an otherwise enjoyable engagement.

Complete all of the sailing rules and THEN it would be ok to include drift, otherwise, leave them out.