Would a perfectly flat, tight sail on a boat be more efficient than a sail like we all know? (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago by Beefcyclone@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Okay hear me out and this may sound like the ramblings of a lune but i just thought the following.

Surely a perfectly flat tight sail would more effectively convert wind energy into forward momentum rather than a full sail which would first have the wind hit it at a slight angle pushing the sail in that direction rather than perfectly straight forward.

I realise there are practicalities in operating a very high tension sheet but this lives purely in the hypothetical realm.

Does this make sense or have i been drinking drain cleaner again.

Ta Lemmers....

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[-] Beefcyclone@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

It's completely my ignorance that i didn't think of a sail as an aerofoil, in my lightbulb moment my brain thought, "fabric catch wind" in a very neanderthal voice.

I really appreciate everyone's comments however i think with yours the nail is sufficiently hit on its head.

Appreciate all your time 🙂

[-] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 2 points 7 months ago

No worries, like I said you hit on two of my special interests. Plus it was fun to pull out all my sailing jargon after all that time.

this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2023

54 points (90.9% liked)

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