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Would a perfectly flat, tight sail on a boat be more efficient than a sail like we all know? (lemmy.world)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Okay hear me out and this may sound like the ramblings of a lune but i just thought the following.

Surely a perfectly flat tight sail would more effectively convert wind energy into forward momentum rather than a full sail which would first have the wind hit it at a slight angle pushing the sail in that direction rather than perfectly straight forward.

I realise there are practicalities in operating a very high tension sheet but this lives purely in the hypothetical realm.

Does this make sense or have i been drinking drain cleaner again.

Ta Lemmers....

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

I'm thinking if the sail was flat and taught the air would push around the sail and you would lose a lot of energy through resistance or like wind moving laterally. Whereas the traditional sail kinda cups and holds the wind force and creates more pushing force towards the center rather than the edges.

Cause airflow is like fluid dynamics right? Imagine spraying a hose at a wall vs a sheet hanging from four corners.

But I'm high and kinda drunk so who TF even knows.