Sail Aerodynamics: On-Water Pressure Measurements on a Downwind Sail

摘要

Pressures on three horizontal sections of a downwind sail were measured for several wind directions and sail trims. The pressure distributions were compared with wind tunnel tests; similarities and differences were found, the latter as a result of the dynamic effects, which were not modeled in the wind tunnel. A pressure distribution at the head of the spinnaker resembling that from a delta wing was measured at an apparent wind angle of 120°.