Sailing boats range from tiny ones with no more than two people to large oceangoing vessels powered by nothing more than salty wind. But they all share the same basic components that allow them to float and move: a mast, sails, keel, rudder and tiller. In this article, we’ll explore how these pieces work together and how physics principles allow them to harness the power of wind to propel sailboats forward.
The mainsail captures the bulk of the wind’s energy. Its vertical side attaches to the mast, a long upright pole, while its horizontal side attaches to the boom, a long pole parallel to the deck. Sailors can rotate the boom to position the mainsail at various angles to the wind and catch the full force of its energy.
When a sail is trimmed correctly, the thin ribbon threads on its surface fly parallel to the ground. However, when a sail is trimmed incorrectly or the airflow over it is mixed, large eddies form that deflect the flow of air over the sail and cause it to “flutter.”
Hull design is another important element in sailboat performance. Extensive computer modeling and tank testing has resulted in hull designs that are tapered toward the stern to reduce resistance as the boat moves through water. A smooth surface on the hull is also necessary, since turbulence dissipates energy and increases resistance.
The keel’s primary function is to help the ship stay stable and maintain speed while under way. It does this by angling the water flow down on the low-pressure (lower water-speed) side and up on the high-pressure (higher water-speed) side, creating a vortex that adds thrust to the craft.
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