Equilibrium Sailing Velocities

A. M. Phys. 56, 209 (1988)https://ireap.umd.edu/10.1119/1.156491988Journal ArticlePlasma, Accelerator, and Nuclear Physics

The equations of motion of a sailboat have been analytically solved for motion parallel to the wind velocity. For this point of sailing, the equilibrium velocity and acceleration time have been determined as a function of boat parameters and wind velocity. For other sailing angles, numerical solutions of the equilibrium equations give the conditions for achieving maximum speed while numerical integrations of the equations of motion give the acceleration time.