Post by TomTango on Sept 19, 2013 22:48:16 GMT
This post hopes to explain some of the more basic aspects of sailing and how sailing vessels work, its not exhaustive and its purpose is a brief introduction so that a reader isn't swamped by unfamiliar terms and concepts in other threads.
We'll expand this post as it becomes necessary to do so. If theres something you think could with explaning, or something you need expanding on, feel free to let us now in the comments forum and we'll get on it.
Types of sail
A sail is classed as either square or fore-and-aft. Square sails hang from a yard hung across their mast while fore-and-aft sails hang along the length of the vessel from bow to stern. Most sailing vessels have a combination of the two. Fore and ast sails allow the vessel to sail more into the wind but they have less surface area than a square sail and so cant generate as much lift. In simple terms fore and aft sails allow a vessel to sail more into the wind and square sails allow her to catch more wind and go faster.
A sail works in two ways, firstly the wind pushing it from behind causes a force that pushes the vessel forward, however this isn't normally how a sail generates most of the force needed to drive a large sailing vessel. A sail also works much like an aircaft wing, with high air pressure behind and low air pressure infront that creates lift which pulls a boat forward. This lift effect is how vessels sail into the wind and is the main driving force of fore and aft sails, it is also how a sailing vessel can sail faster than the speed of the wind.
Apparent wind
Understandin apparent wind is important in Spirit of Sail as it is this wind speed that is used in determining the speed of vessels,not the speed of the wind in the game world, though often the two are very similar.
Apparent wind (as opposed to true wind) is the wind experienced on the deck of the ship as it moves. Imagine youre riding a bike, you feel wind in your face even if the air is completely still, the wind you feel on your face is apparent wind and its this that is important to a sailing vessel.
If the wind is behind a sailing vessel, then the faster it goes the slower the apparent wind speed but the less lift effect is geneated by the sail. Whereas if it is sailing into the wind then the faster it goes the higher the apparent wind speed, but the sails cant catch as much of the wind. This means that the fastest point of sail for any sailing vessel is "By" the wind, that is with the wind at about 90* to the direction of travel as more speed means a higher apparent wind speed and the vessel can use all her sails to catch that wind. In a light breeze a well handled Bermuda sloop can travel several times faster than the actual wind in this way, something which can seem counter intuitive to begin with.
Apparent wind be easily gauged on board a vessel by watching penants on the masts, they will stand out in the direction of the apparent wind the vessel is under.
We'll expand this post as it becomes necessary to do so. If theres something you think could with explaning, or something you need expanding on, feel free to let us now in the comments forum and we'll get on it.
Types of sail
A sail is classed as either square or fore-and-aft. Square sails hang from a yard hung across their mast while fore-and-aft sails hang along the length of the vessel from bow to stern. Most sailing vessels have a combination of the two. Fore and ast sails allow the vessel to sail more into the wind but they have less surface area than a square sail and so cant generate as much lift. In simple terms fore and aft sails allow a vessel to sail more into the wind and square sails allow her to catch more wind and go faster.
A sail works in two ways, firstly the wind pushing it from behind causes a force that pushes the vessel forward, however this isn't normally how a sail generates most of the force needed to drive a large sailing vessel. A sail also works much like an aircaft wing, with high air pressure behind and low air pressure infront that creates lift which pulls a boat forward. This lift effect is how vessels sail into the wind and is the main driving force of fore and aft sails, it is also how a sailing vessel can sail faster than the speed of the wind.
Apparent wind
Understandin apparent wind is important in Spirit of Sail as it is this wind speed that is used in determining the speed of vessels,not the speed of the wind in the game world, though often the two are very similar.
Apparent wind (as opposed to true wind) is the wind experienced on the deck of the ship as it moves. Imagine youre riding a bike, you feel wind in your face even if the air is completely still, the wind you feel on your face is apparent wind and its this that is important to a sailing vessel.
If the wind is behind a sailing vessel, then the faster it goes the slower the apparent wind speed but the less lift effect is geneated by the sail. Whereas if it is sailing into the wind then the faster it goes the higher the apparent wind speed, but the sails cant catch as much of the wind. This means that the fastest point of sail for any sailing vessel is "By" the wind, that is with the wind at about 90* to the direction of travel as more speed means a higher apparent wind speed and the vessel can use all her sails to catch that wind. In a light breeze a well handled Bermuda sloop can travel several times faster than the actual wind in this way, something which can seem counter intuitive to begin with.
Apparent wind be easily gauged on board a vessel by watching penants on the masts, they will stand out in the direction of the apparent wind the vessel is under.