So whats the best way to set up tarps and tents relative to the prevailing winds. Is it best to have your tent perpendicular to the wind so it can blow up and over or parallel so there is less surface area. Same is true with a tarp-if you hang it on a ridgeline like a 'V' is it better perpendicular or parallel, or in a high wind is better to just have a low end up wind and a high end downwind to get an up and over effect. I can see advantages and disadvantages to both, so what do you think? Survey says...........

depends on air temp..do you want to feel the wind or not?

Which way is the wind blowing, it'll probably change.
I tend to set up further back in wind sheltered areas if possible, and keep tarp rigging adjustability in mind. Altering the height of the tarp edges/corners can make all the difference. A bottle/pot/bucket of water can weigh down a corner or edge and be easily adjusted if changing tieout anchor points is too much trouble.
My sleeping shelter is pitched as much out of the wind as practical, with strong staking/anchor potential.

butthead

Well for your tent if you are around a buggy area, have the door facing the wind. That way the wind will keep the bugs away from the door and they will be on the lee side of the tent.
As for setting your tarp up if you set it up like a lean to style with the one side staked/tied down low. Then that side would be the side the wind is coming from. If you have is set up in an inverted V style then it depends on if you want to feel the wind or not.

Guess only thing I care about is how it will best cover the fire and area I want dry when it rains. How it will drain as well. Wind has a way of changing directions if you try and count on it.

If the winds are strong enough to affect setting up the tents, our group tends to setup the tarp first as a windbreak so they can setup the tent with the least amount of interference from the wind. After the tents are up, the tarp can be re-adjusted as required.

To me, this is yet another reason why I switched from tents to hammocks. The wind (short of a tornado) has no effect on my ability to setup my hammock. Neither does the condition of the ground. All I need are 2 trees spaced 10 - 20 feet apart.