A sailboat is a boat powered by the wind. It can be a small dinghie like the Optimist, a racing yacht, or something larger than 200 feet long.
Choosing a sailboat for yourself or for your family is a big decision and involves a lot of research. You must consider your needs, budget and preferences.
Size is a factor, but not necessarily one that everyone agrees on. Several famous people have circumnavigated the globe in sailboats of various sizes.
It is important to understand that the wind can be very powerful, and that it can be difficult to predict. This is why it is essential to make sure that your boat has adequate sails for the conditions.
The keel is a fixed appendage on the bottom of the hull that counteracts the force of the wind on the sails. The keel also carries ballast, usually iron or lead.
In a typical sailboat, the keel provides about 40% of the resistance to the wind in the direction of motion. In the case of a sailboat that is moving at constant speed, the transverse lift components from the sails cancel each other and provide about 15% of the total resistance.
This is called form resistance and depends on the hull’s shape and the flow along its length. In general, narrow hulls provide less resistance than wider ones, and the stern of any sailboat should be designed to taper gently back from the bow so that water can flow smoothly there.
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