In this paper we report the results of the first laboratory study on the relationship between the initial growth of the short wind waves and the simultaneous development of the wind-induced drift current. The phenomenon of the first visible ripples appearing “suddenly” on the water surface and forming V-shaped streaks aligned with the wind is explained. We show that the laminar–turbulent transition of the near surface water flow causes an explosive growth of the initial wind-generated ripples. The grown ripples become visible and thus mark the surface of the well-localized V-shaped turbulent zones forming the streaks. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.