Steps towards an optimal yacht sailplan

Day, Alexander (1994) Steps towards an optimal yacht sailplan. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, 136. pp. 155-174. ISSN 0035-8967

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Abstract

Much of the existing work carried out in the area of sail optimisation has concentrated on optimising the distribution of aerodynamic lift over the sailplan without specifying how the lift distribution may be achieved in practice. A method is presented here by which the principal dimensions of the rig - luff length, foot length etc. - may be chosen so as to maximise upwind speed for a particular yacht in a given wind strength, within the practical constraints of rig technology.