The Wolfson Unit has conducted a considerable number of wind tunnel tests on sailing yacht rigs and these have included evaluation of offwind sails such as reaching genoas, gennikers set from bow sprits and symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers set from poles. Recent projects have included work for large classic yachts, IMS racing yachts, IOR Maxi ketches and Whitbread 60 yachts. This paper describes the experimental techniques and the methods of data interpretation that have been developed during these tests. The development has been to the extent that the full range of performance of offwind sails can be evaluated for settings in different wind strengths across a range of wind angles. Previously unpublished experimental data is included to illustrate the results and these will be reviewed in terms of driving and heeling forces and centre of effort location, which relate directly to the performance of the yacht, and in terms of lift and drag coefficients, which enable evaluation of the aerodynamic efficiency of sails. The aerodynamic characteristics of different offwind sails are described and it is shown how the wind tunnel data can be used to evaluate sailing performance and sail selection, both from the test data alone and with the aid of a VPP program.
The performance of offwind sails obtained from wind tunnel tests
Wirksamkeit von Kreuzungssegeln anhand von Windkanalversuchen
1998
14 Seiten, 12 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 6 Quellen
Conference paper
English
The Performance of Offwind Sails Obtained from Wind Tunnel Tests
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