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Thom Stewart Thom Stewart is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 732
Default Could a fan in front of a sail increase speed?

Jax (which I doubt)

Jax doesn't subscribe to Bernoulli's Theory but believes in Newton's
Law. (For each and every force there is a egual AND opposite force
created) I have to admit my own acceptance (Maybe) to this theory.

The question does a lot to bisporove Bernoulli and adds to Newton.

With Newton's law the force created (and this is my own observation,
right or wrong I don't know) is the force deflecting the with the
leading edge of the sail away from the curved side of the sail. The
reaction of the air, not the deflected air but the normal atmospheric
air to rush in and equalize the reduced air on the curved side, which is
moving and slides off the trailing (Leech) edge. This courses the
tell-tales to stream, sometimes even hooking to the windward side.

This is my reasoning and why I don't think the fan theory would make the
boat move faster. It would be a a disruption to the Action/Reaction of
the Sail surface by introducing a independent air supply.

For any of the racing sailors that have ever stopped a windward boat
from the leeward side by getting close enough to put the exhaust air
from your sails to the curved side of their sail will know what I'm
talking about.




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