How to sail faster than the wind - Apparent wind

[@gamesofcontent]

Thank you for explaining with math. That I understand. I watched like 3 videos before this and they were on boats talking about it. All I needed was the force balance behind it.

[@conradmanning7087]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful seeing it on paper

[@steveperreira5850]

For anyone who understands vectors, this is a simple and excellent explanation.

[@Maxime-ho9iv]

It doesn't explain WHY. It explains that it is actually going faster (the sum of the 2 vectors). What needs to be explained is the second vector, or the transfer of energy the boat is creating.

[@wilbur111]

I would say, "it doesn't explain 'how', it explains 'that'."

[@brycehoen4039]

i knew this guy knew what he was talking about as soon as i saw the pencil and the drawings

[@akshaykorpe7673]

What pencil is that? it's the coolest one I've ever seen and I'd like to have one!

[@dgw6448]

Conrad needs to explain that absurd pencil

[@rabukan5842]

Hi Conrad. I'll try my best to break down what you said. I think you might have confused your viewers (you confused me and I do sail :) because you first said about the wind coming from the port side, "You will have the "normal" wind (what is normal wind? compared to true wind and apparent wind?) coming from your beam, like that." But did you mean that wind was the true wind, apparent wind, or what? And wasn't it actually coming from forward of beam (close hauled,) at maybe 30 degrees? Anyway, you then jump to the car scenario to describe equal and opposite forces, but you don't explain how that combination links to apparent wind. The car is also different as it is under its own power. The boat is not. So how does the wind actually move the boat? Then you go back to the boat and recreate the car scenario, but you cross out the original wind line and say it doesn't exist ("No wind whatsoever.") If there is no wind whatsoever coming from the port bow, what is the head on wind? But then you say, "If you combine these into a vector, you then have the wind," and you use the wind line that you just said didn't exist, then have that non existent wind merging with the head wind to create your vector; and then you say the boat "feels" the apparent wind (from what?) but never explain how the boat manages to go faster. In your scenario, the only wind the boat would actually be affected by is the direct head on wind (again, where is that coming from?) as you haven't explained how the wind coming from head on moves the boat forward if the wind off the port bow does not exist. So the problem with your explanation is that you never explain how the boat can generate speed from nothing except the headwind which you draw as "the speed that you generate." If you break it down to a basic explanation of apparent wind vs true wind and how they are created, and then how wind creates lift on the sail, and why that moves the boat forward, it will be clearer. Cheers :)

[@Conradmanningracing]

Thanks for the comment Rabukan, I'll have a read through your comment as it's been a fair while since I did the video so a little confused myself by what you've written... thanks though for taking the time to comment it is much appreciated!

[@marekczarnecki5388]

Oh! I guess I had in mind the physics of a square sail ship - so you can only hope for < 100% of the wind speed behind(?) you. Does that mean you can just keep on building speed limited only by friction - sailing into the wind? Is this only a wing sail effect - 'lift' off the wing surfaces - or your diagram is valid for a normal 'main' sail ? ... will Google :)

[@conradmanning7087]

Hi Marek, thanks for the question. A few comments: - Yes, if you were a square rigged vessel 'running' with the wind you won't go faster or even as fast (as otherwise the boat will feel 0kts of wind). - In theory yes, but you won't necessarily be sailing into the wind as much, check out the tacking angles of the America's Cup boats at the moment as an idea. - It is a simplification as sails have a slightly different setup going on compared to a true wing but if you look at it as a generalisation yes. Hope that helped, how did your google go?

[@PierceAlexanderLilholt]

This video might be about sailing. ⛵

[@Yepnope1010]

Perfect example, thanks!!

[@Conradmanningracing]

Thanks Matthew! How do you think I could improve it?

[@dandeliondown6010]

Thank you. I have always wondered about that. I understood your excellent, simple explanation (after two viewings). 　 However, I must say that it still amazes me that the force, generated by the action of the apparent wind on the sails, is sufficient to accelerate the mass of the boat (and to overcome the friction with the water, up to a point) to a velocity GREATER THAN THE TRUE WIND. For me, it's counter-intuitive. 　 I suppose the various forces of air pressure (on a sail, on an airplane's wing, on a vacuum clamp) can be extremely powerful.

[@Conradmanningracing]

You're more than welcome and thanks for the comment! What do you think I could do to make it easier to understand (as I see it took you two goes)? Wind is sure a powerful force! There are a few additional needs to do with the boat's design (weight, size, resistance, etc) that will enable it to travel faster than the wind (think old classics compared to the modern ocean racers if you will).

[@dandeliondown6010]

Thanks for replying. 　 Let me think about this for a few days. First, I need to do some basic research on sails, hang-glider wings, and the like. Then I can present my thoughts in a more informed way. I'll get back to you.

[@Conradmanningracing]

@@dandeliondown6010 that would be great! I look forward to hearing back from you (would you prefer email rather than on here?)

[@dandeliondown6010]

Here is fine. (Maybe some other people can benefit from our conversation.)

[@dandeliondown6010]

HELLO. I am back, as promised, after watching several videos (on sails, wings, vacuum clamps, air pressure, etc.) I think I understand the whole topic better now. 　 SORRY, this is a long message. 　 MY MISTAKEN IDEA: Bearing in mind that my high school physics is imperfect, imagine me saying this: "Because the only force of thrust in this example comes from the true wind, it should not be possible for the boat to go faster than the true wind." Of course (I now realize) that I have made two mistakes in that sentence. 　 FIRST MISTAKE CORRECTED: There is another force of thrust, and it is probably a much more powerful force. It is the force created by the difference in air pressure when the wind blows across the sails. Just as the difference in air pressure on a wing can lift a very heavy airplane, the difference in air pressure on a sail can propel the boat with great force. Where does this force come from? "Air pressure is the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the earth" (infoplease.com). It can be extremely powerful, and when sails and wings create a difference in air pressure, the force can be enormous. Why does a small force from the true wind cause a large force from a difference in air pressure? A small force can break the "containment" that is holding a large force. For example, we use a small force to turn the ignition key in our car, making available the powerful forces in the car's engine; a small force from a spark plug releases the powerful forces in the car's gasoline or petrol. 　 SECOND MISTAKE CORRECTED: It is commonplace for a slow but massive force to create a fast light force. When a bagpiper squeezes the bag with his arm, his slow-moving but massive arm causes a fast but light stream of air to come through the pipes. (Momentum is conserved because the faster air is less massive than the slow arm.) 　 SUMMARY: The force of the wind acts with the sails to release the powerful force of air pressure by creating a difference in air pressure. Because the difference in air pressure can be great, it can propel the boat at speeds faster than the true wind. 　 NOTE: I watched this video a third time just now, and I think it is excellent to explain the apparent wind. (It is normal practice for me to watch an instructional video several times. That's just me.) I think my previous confusion was the result of my ignorance in not understanding all the forces involved. Hopefully, my understanding is better now. 　 Cheers.

[@andyphillips7435]

Any chance of explaining AC 75 extraordinary speed in little wind . Please.

[@Conradmanningracing]

Hi Andy, it's a similar principle except their resistance in the water is significantly reduced which allows them to go faster.

[@andyphillips7435]

@@Conradmanningracing got it, many thanks. So American Magic lost resistance completely.

[@Conradmanningracing]

@@andyphillips7435 are you referring to a point specifically? The boat on boat stuff will be down to a few other factors