| ems obvious how a sailboat sails downwind: It is | | | | instinct and fear to go on this unstable machine could |
| pushed along by the wind in its sails. Less obvious is | | | | surface. For this reason, many people opt for a larger, |
| how it can sail upwind or how some sailboats can sail | | | | seemingly more forgiving big boat to learn on. |
| faster than the wind. | | | | It is another way, but they miss out on a pure form of |
| Sir Isaac Newton formulated three basic laws that | | | | sailing not experienced in larger boats. Is it Dangerous? |
| pertain to the motions and accelerations of all objects. | | | | Which danger could threaten you on a small sailing |
| Let us have a look at the third law: | | | | boat? You could tip over. It is called |
| For any force exerted on an object, an equal but | | | | “Capsize”. Capsizing and learning to right |
| opposite force must be exerted by that object onto | | | | your boat again are all part of the learning process and |
| whatever exerted the force. | | | | could be fun. |
| A direct consequence of this law is the conservation | | | | With the fear of capsize behind you, you will be able to |
| of momentum (Momentum equals mass times | | | | concentrate wholly on sailing maneuvers instead of |
| velocity). The conservation of momentum tells us that | | | | constantly worrying about getting wet. |
| if the velocity of one thing is somehow changed (in | | | | Don't wait and Jump |
| either magnitude or direction) that the velocity of | | | | Remember, you told everyone that you would like to |
| something else must also change accordingly. | | | | become a sailor and go across oceans… |
| Moreover, a large change in velocity of a light object | | | | Well, it's time to make good on that. |
| can be balanced by a small change in velocity of a | | | | At first, gauge how you feel about the water. |
| massive object. This is, of course, how a sailboat sails. | | | | During your last summer vacation, did you jump right in |
| Because of its large sail area, a sailboat can change | | | | the water or did you cautiously wade in? Okay, I agree |
| the velocity of a huge amount of air in a small amount | | | | it could depend of the weather and the temperature |
| of direction or speed. | | | | of the water. |
| The change of velocity that the sailboat imparts to the | | | | But if you're a jumper, you can stop reading here. Just |
| air hitting her sails is mainly a change in the direction in | | | | take a day off from the office, buy or rent a boat, or |
| which the air is moving. So a sailboat can experience a | | | | ask an old friend sailor to come with you, and get out |
| large driving force even when she is sailing against the | | | | of here! |
| wind. | | | | If you're still with me, then you're a wader. Don’t |
| In the real world, there are two forces. One is the wind | | | | worry. I am not a jumper too, and I sailed during the last |
| pushing on the sail when it is changing direction. The air | | | | 40 years having fun. It is difficult for me to take the |
| traveling over the leeward surface of the cambered | | | | decision to go, but if I fall, by accident,in the (cold) |
| sail creates the second force. It has to travel a longer | | | | water, it is not such a big problem for me. The more I |
| way to reach the end of the sail (the leech), and as a | | | | think about, the less I go… |
| consequence goes faster. This is causing a pressure | | | | Have no fear. Nobody is going to splash you. Let's |
| differential in accordance with Bernoulli’s | | | | start with dipping our toes into the water. The way to |
| principle. (More speed gives less pressure and less | | | | do that with sailing is to go out and buy a few books |
| speed gives more pressure). | | | | about the sport. Stay away from anything boring, |
| So a sailboat can sail upwind with the addition of these | | | | technical, or overly historical. You need an easy book, |
| two forces. But remember that the force created by | | | | with a lot of drawings, and nice to read. |
| the depression is four times bigger that the one | | | | Lobbying, Lobbying |
| created by pushing the air sideways. | | | | Now let's go to a more serious work. Figure out a way |
| A fluid flow exerts a force upon an object in a | | | | to catch an invitation onto a sailboat. The important |
| direction perpendicular to the uninterrupted flow of that | | | | thing is to get sailing. You can pay to go on a sailing |
| fluid. As a result, a lift is generated. But there is also | | | | boat with skipper, or twist a friend’s arm to be |
| creation of a drag that is a force acting in the direction | | | | invited aboard his next sail. I don’t care the |
| of the fluid.Because lift and drag are defined as being | | | | method. You need to go on the water. As a good info, |
| perpendicular to one another, any force acting on a sail | | | | it is very rare to be sick on small boats. You are |
| can, using trigonometry, be divided into a lift component | | | | outside, in the wind, all thing concurring to have you |
| and a drag component. By separating the force into | | | | feeling well. |
| these two components, we can study the relationships | | | | Just take care not to do a race with a crazy guy who |
| between lift, drag, the shape of the sail, and the angle | | | | will cure you of sailing. You have to start with a mellow |
| between the sail and the airflow( AOA or Angle Of | | | | sailing day. |
| Attack with the Greek letter). | | | | Take a Course |
| Sailing is not a complicated sport. Anyone can do it | | | | It's time to move on to the second step. Find an adult |
| and enjoy it. | | | | sailing course and sign up for it. Personally, I would |
| Spend time on the water | | | | recommend taking your first lessons in a small sailing |
| You just need to take a little time on the water. Trying | | | | boat, a dinghy. For sailing courses they are designed |
| and collecting experience is one of the best way to | | | | for beginners. They will give you an immediate |
| learn. I am sure you will have a great time on the | | | | response to any shifts in the variables that affect |
| water. | | | | sailing (weight, wind, waves, and weather). |
| You can start just by yourself. | | | | If your wife (or your husband, boyfriend or girlfriend) |
| Plenty of sailors started buying, renting, borrowing or | | | | wants to learn sailing too, take separate classes. It's |
| otherwise obtaining a boat for their first sail without | | | | difficult enough to learn a new sport without having |
| any knowledge. | | | | your partner watching over your shoulder at every |
| Let me say that you have to take care because it | | | | step of the way. |
| could be hazardous to your health. | | | | It will be time later to sail (and should the occasion |
| Get the Right Boat | | | | arise, to fight) all together, as an old couple, on the |
| For a child, learning to sail in a dinghy seems natural. | | | | same boat. |
| For an adult, it is not so simple. You react less by | | | | |