Think of a boat sailing on her mooring. Does not the aft end follow the
bow? As she sails across the wind -tied to the mooring -does she not
advance a little way up wind before stalling and tacking off again?

Does that help you think more clearly grasshopper?


Cheers




Blorgad wrote:

We are disagreeing about fundamental behaviour characteristics of sailboats.
It has extended beyond our discussion of how to deal with a spinnaker into a
situation where we disagree on what is within and without the realm of
possibility. So, as competitive men are wont to do, we are trying to settle
it. So, do you have an opinion, or you going to Zen master me into a
frenzy?


"Nav" wrote in message
...

But why ask about such a foolish act grasshopper?

Cheers


Blorgad wrote:


Please read the letter again. The question is not how do we fly a

spinnaker

while moored, but rather is it at all possible for a bow-moored boat to

be

be turned around by a spinnaker, or any other combination of sails for

that

matter, so that the aft end travels upwind?


"Nav" wrote in message
...


What not transfer your anchor warp to the stern?

Cheers

Blorgad wrote:



My friend and I are having a disagreement regarding the behaviour of
sailboats on a mooring. We both have limited sailing experience,

although he


has a fair amount more than I. We were discussing running up a

spinnaker at


mooring in calm air, just to practice putting it up. We eventually
concluded that this wasn't practical, but the argument came in as to

our

our


different conclusions as to why it would not be. I felt that there

would be


no point to put it up, as it would just get blown into the rigging and

not


really tell us anything and possibly get torn. He was of the opinion

that


somehow the spinnaker could push the boat to one side, fill and turn

the


boat around. Initially he said it would go right upwind of the

mooring,

then reduced his claim to say that it would turn around at the point

where


it was attached to the line at the bow.

I am of the opinion that this is physically impossible and that under

no

combination of sail at a mooring could the boat turn around so that the

aft


was upwind. I am of the opinion that you could get the boat to swing

to

one


side or the other a bit by backing the jib, but you could still never

turn


the boat around.

I would gratefully accept as many informed opinions as possible on this

from


a sailing or physics point of view.

Fair winds,
Miles