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Sailing
Videos
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wing sails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the water, on ice or on land over a chosen course, which is often part of a larger plan of navigation.
Sloops racing with fore-and-aft sails
Sloops racing with fore-and-aft sails
Three-masted barque with square sails
Three-masted barque with square sails
Sailing hydrofoil catamaran with wingsail
Sailing hydrofoil catamaran with wingsail
DN class ice boat
DN class ice boat
Forces on sails
Videos
Forces on sails result from movement of air that interacts with sails and gives them motive power for sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and sail-powered land v
Sailing
…cruising. Cruising can include extended offshore and ocean-crossing trips, coastal sailing within sight of land, and daysailing. Sailing relies on the physics of sails as they derive power from the wind, generating both lift and drag. On a given course, the sails are set to an angle that optimizes the development of…
Aerodynamic force components for two points of sail. Left-hand boat: Down wind with stalled airflow— predominant drag component propels the boat with
Aerodynamic force components for two points of sail. Left-hand boat: Down wind with stalled airflow— predominant drag component propels the boat with little heeling moment. Right-hand boat: Up wind (close-hauled) with attached airflow—predominant lift component both propels the boat and contributes to heel.
Points of sail (and predominant sail force component for a displacement sailboat). A. Luffing (no propulsive force) — 0–30° B. Close-Hauled (lift)— 30
Points of sail (and predominant sail force component for a displacement sailboat). A. Luffing (no propulsive force) — 0–30° B. Close-Hauled (lift)— 30–50° C. Beam Reach (lift)— 90° D. Broad Reach (lift–drag)— ~135° E. Running (drag)— 180° True wind (VT) is the same everywhere in the diagram, whereas boat velocity (VB) and apparent wind (VA) vary with point of sail.
Decomposition of forces (in horizontal cross-section) acting on a sail, generating lift. FT is the Total Force acting on the sail for the Apparent Win
Decomposition of forces (in horizontal cross-section) acting on a sail, generating lift. FT is the Total Force acting on the sail for the Apparent Wind (VA), shown. This resolves into forces felt by the sail, Lift (L) and Drag (D), with vectors shown in red and angle of attack noted as α.
Wind forces acting on a sailboat sail (L and D) and being transmitted to the boat (FR—propelling the boat forward—and FLAT—pushing the boat sideways),
Wind forces acting on a sailboat sail (L and D) and being transmitted to the boat (FR—propelling the boat forward—and FLAT—pushing the boat sideways), while close-hauled, are both components of total aerodynamic force (FT).