There is something magical and alluring about the idea of buying a boat, cutting the dock lines, and sailing away to a tropical destination. The allure is so powerful that it fuels a large, lucrative industry that exists in spite of sailing being perhaps the most impractical mode of transportation to exist on Earth.
Whether you are planning to sail the world, take a cruise with friends, or simply enjoy the ocean view from your own backyard, there are some basic facts about boats that should be understood to ensure safety and enjoyment. In this article, we will explore how physics principles allow ships to float and move, the different parts of a sailboat, and the basics of navigation.
Sails act as the engine of a boat, harnessing wind power and propelling the ship sideways. A mainsail’s vertical side attaches to a mast, a long upright pole, and its horizontal side secures to a boom, which is a long pole parallel with the deck. When swung perpendicular to the wind, the mainsail puffs outward and when swung parallel to the wind it goes slack.
Newton’s Third Law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so when the mainsail puffs outward to tack into the wind, it generates drag on the other side of the boat. To minimize induced drag, modern sails and keels are designed with elliptic (tapered) trailing edges.
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