Re: sailing upwind

[brian whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

At 15:02 12/31/99 -0800, Leigh wrote:
> You guys seem to like this problem. Recall the simpler one which, I
> think, will be easier to analyze*. You will see that John Denker's
> point about mechanical advantage being important is clearly
> illustrated here....
> Leigh

The most wonderful aspect of the web URL for autogyro boats that
John M. provided is that the rotor can be a free turbine.
   Some examples offered *no* mechanical connection and therefore
needed *no* mechanical advantage.

   These are not the ones that necessarily claimed to go directly
 upwind, but recalling autogyro aircraft: given an aft windstream
blowing  *upwards* through the rotor disk, the rotor provided lift
while spinning free.

 For this particular style of boat, I imagine the axis of rotation
is in fact close to perpendicular to the wind direction in much the
 same fashion.

:-)



brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK