The sails always seems to be somewhat parallel to the direction of the boat, but if the wind is blowing sideways, should that push the boat off course?
In: 9
Imagine a sailboat like an airplane tipped sideways with one wing in the air and one in the water – the one in the air is the sail and the one in the water is the keel.
The boat moves because the wind is pushing against the water resistance of the keel; the result is low air pressure in front of the sail and high air pressure behind it, combined with water pressure on the lee side of the keel, but no resistance forward or aft.
So all the pressures even out by the boat moving forward.
The sails always seems to be somewhat parallel to the direction of the boat, but if the wind is blowing sideways, should that push the boat off course?
In: 9
Imagine a sailboat like an airplane tipped sideways with one wing in the air and one in the water – the one in the air is the sail and the one in the water is the keel.
The boat moves because the wind is pushing against the water resistance of the keel; the result is low air pressure in front of the sail and high air pressure behind it, combined with water pressure on the lee side of the keel, but no resistance forward or aft.
So all the pressures even out by the boat moving forward.
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