I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any theoretical backing for what the optimum sail angle is on a laser upwind. The general rule is that in any reasonable wind the mainsheet is pulled block to block with the traveller tight, so that the traveller block and sail clew sit as close to the deck and the gunnel as possible. Its said that the traveller should be kept tight both to keep the boom low as well as stop the traveller block from coming inboard. How come this is the best position for the sail ? Was Kirby such a brilliant designer that he worked it all out this way ? ie the width of the hull at that point.
From a simple point of view, the forward drive of the sail comes from the relative angle of the sail to the wind and I appreciate how there's an optimum angle of the sail to the wind, to get best VMG, no stalling etc. But given the sail is at this angle to the wind and on the gunnel, what would be the problem with rotating the hull under the sail to point higher, ie pulling the sail closer to the centre line of the boat. The sail should be "driving" just the same, but now the boat is pointing higher ??
Hmm maybe not, - the sail is obviously carried by the boat, so if the boat starts pointing higher, the sail goes with it, so even if it stays at the same angle to the (real) wind, the apparent wind will move forward i.e. luffing.
I haven't sailed on other boats, but I do see pictures of bigger boats with the main virtually down the centre line, which seems to be the best way to point high. Anyone got any references on why this isn't so for the laser ?
From a simple point of view, the forward drive of the sail comes from the relative angle of the sail to the wind and I appreciate how there's an optimum angle of the sail to the wind, to get best VMG, no stalling etc. But given the sail is at this angle to the wind and on the gunnel, what would be the problem with rotating the hull under the sail to point higher, ie pulling the sail closer to the centre line of the boat. The sail should be "driving" just the same, but now the boat is pointing higher ??
Hmm maybe not, - the sail is obviously carried by the boat, so if the boat starts pointing higher, the sail goes with it, so even if it stays at the same angle to the (real) wind, the apparent wind will move forward i.e. luffing.
I haven't sailed on other boats, but I do see pictures of bigger boats with the main virtually down the centre line, which seems to be the best way to point high. Anyone got any references on why this isn't so for the laser ?