How and why does sail boat performance depend on the configuration and trim of boat and sails? This book provides the yachtsman with answers in a relatively straightforward account of the physical mechanisms of sailing. It presents an accessible overview of the fluid dynamic aspects of sailing and sailing technology, addressing both aeromechanics and hydromechanics. Readers are provided with the basic principles of physics and general mechanics that will assist their understanding of the fluid mechanics of sailing yachts. Rich appendices cover not only in-depth,mathematical-physical treatments and derivations for those wishing to explore further, but also helpful summaries of basic mathematical notions for those wishing to refresh their knowledge. This work explores keel yachts, specifically single-masted mono-hulls with ‘fore-and-aft’, Bermuda-rigged sails. However, much of it is applicable to other types of sailing vessels such as multi-hulls, yachts with multiple masts, windsurf boards and the like. Yachtsmen, yacht designers and professionals of sailing technology will all find something of interest in this work which provides explanations of the mechanics of sailing in a way that is scientifically justified, whilst remaining appealing to those wishing to use their knowledge on-board a sailing vessel.

How and why does sail boat performance depend on the configuration and trim of boat and sails? This book provides the yachtsman with answers in a relatively straightforward account of the physical mechanisms of sailing. It presents an accessible overview of the fluid dynamic aspects of sailing and sailing technology, addressing both aeromechanics and hydromechanics. Readers are provided with the basic principles of physics and general mechanics that will assist their understanding of the fluid mechanics of sailing yachts. Rich appendices cover not only in-depth,mathematical-physical treatments and derivations for those wishing to explore further, but also helpful summaries of basic mathematical notions for those wishing to refresh their knowledge. This work explores keel yachts, specifically single-masted mono-hulls with ‘fore-and-aft’, Bermuda-rigged sails. However, much of it is applicable to other types of sailing vessels such as multi-hulls, yachts with multiple masts, windsurf boards and the like. Yachtsmen, yacht designers and professionals of sailing technology will all find something of interest in this work which provides explanations of the mechanics of sailing in a way that is scientifically justified, whilst remaining appealing to those wishing to use their knowledge on-board a sailing vessel. For some years I’m teaching a course on “Sailing Yacht Design” in the master class of yacht design. Actually, I’ve found your book the best one about physics of a sailing yacht I’ve ever read. Edward Canepa, assistant professor in Fluid Machinery at the University of Genova (Italy) ...very impressed, no wonder it took so long. It is “everything I ever wanted to know about sailing but was afraid to ask” ! Frank Woodward, former computational fluid dynamicist at the Boeing Company and Analytical Methods Inc., and a cruising yachtsman

A groundbreaking technical analysis of yacht design based on cutting edge research in the field of aero-hydrodynamics.

*This is THE book on the aero- and hydromechanics of sailing.*Contains full and scientifically justified descriptions of the dependence of the performance of sailing yachts on their configuration and the underlying physical mechanisms.*Bridges the gap between the few existing books on the aero- and hydrodynamics of sailing and the more popular books that deal with the "what and how" but not with the "why" of sailing yacht configurations and boat trim.*New edition that also covers the recently evolved technology of foiling.REVIEWS (OF THE 1ST EDITION):From the December 2015 issue of the Dutch sailing magazine "Zeilen" (translated):"Decades of research and development in fluid dynamics, but also his experience as a cruising yachtsman, have put author Joop Slooff in the position to write a new standard work on the behavior of keel yachts in wind and water. In his preface the author states that it is his ambition to bridge the gap between the few existing scientific books on the aero- and hydrodynamics of sailing and the more popular books that describe the 'what' and 'how' but not so much the 'why' of boat trim. For this purpose the author treats the basic principles of the forces acting on a sailing yacht, but he describes also how these principles translate to the boat and its sails.... In the world of sailing Slooff is known for his involvement in the development of the winged keel of the America's Cup winning yacht Australia II. His book is an excellent work for the dedicated yachtsman who is interested in the 'why' and the scientific background of the behavior of his or her boat in wind and water".Comment (Dec. 2015) by Edward Canepa, assistant professor in Fluid Machinery at the University of Genova (Italy):"For some years I'm teaching a course on "Sailing Yacht Design" in the master class of yacht design. Actually, I've found your book the best one about physics of a sailing yacht I've ever read". Comment (Dec. 2015) by Frank Woodward, former computational fluid dynamicist at the Boeing Company and Analytical Methods Inc., and a cruising yachtsman (retired):"...very impressed, no wonder it took so long. It is 'everything I ever wanted to know about sailing but was afraid to ask' !"

The international classic work of reference for anyone wishing to understand the factors governing the performance of a sailing boat. Everyone interested in yacht design should read this book. A new Appendix in this Third Edition presents a simple graphic method for predicting a yacht's behavior.