Not sure if you’re wrong or im misunderstanding what you are saying.
When sailing upwind think of sails as an aircraft wing with the top facing forward. As the wind passes over them from one side they generate “lift” at a perpendicular angle to the sail, pulling the boat in that direction, usually a combination of forward and sideways. The sideways is offset by your underwater profile, that resists sideways movement, resulting in (mostly) just the forward movement.
Square rigs like this comic often struggle sailing upwind compared to sloop rigs with two sails as the fore sail is used to generate that lift on the mail sail.
I’ve oversimplified this a lot so please not nit pick too much.
Sounds like I had it mostly wrong. I definitely didn’t know about the wing / “lift” / pull mechanic. The only part I did get right was that the sideways component of the force is offset by your ship shape, and even that I misphrased.
Not sure if you’re wrong or im misunderstanding what you are saying.
When sailing upwind think of sails as an aircraft wing with the top facing forward. As the wind passes over them from one side they generate “lift” at a perpendicular angle to the sail, pulling the boat in that direction, usually a combination of forward and sideways. The sideways is offset by your underwater profile, that resists sideways movement, resulting in (mostly) just the forward movement.
Square rigs like this comic often struggle sailing upwind compared to sloop rigs with two sails as the fore sail is used to generate that lift on the mail sail.
I’ve oversimplified this a lot so please not nit pick too much.
Sounds like I had it mostly wrong. I definitely didn’t know about the wing / “lift” / pull mechanic. The only part I did get right was that the sideways component of the force is offset by your ship shape, and even that I misphrased.
Thanks for the correction!