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On Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:04:55 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


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. ..

Despite what that article says, you can absolutely exceed hull speed
using sails alone. Think of hull speed as the point where the law of
diminishing returns kicks in. To go slightly faster, you need a LOT
more power beyond that point.



This is one of those "Yes, but" things. Yes, you can go faster than hull
speed with enough power, but there is still a limit. And there's a point
at
which your rig simply can't stand up to that much power, and you are
dismasted. Surfing allows a boat to go much faster than hull speed, but
it's
also tricky and requires expert helmsmanship.


Surfing is not required to exceed hull speed using just sails alone.
It is not a "yes but thing", either.

Where did your addition of "yes, but there is a limit" come from? If
you want to start moviong the goalposts, I guarantee, that if you
attach a big enough rocket engine to a sailboat, it will go a lot
faster than you ever anticipated. The only limit is how much power you
have available, and at what speed, the hull collapses and breaks up.



Rocket engines would be silly. There is a point at which, regardless of how
much engine power you have, the propeller will be unable to do anything but
cavitate and the hull will not go faster through the water because of
drag/resistance. We are talking about displacement vessels, of course.

I did not say that surfing was necessary, I only offered that as an example
where displacement vessels can easily exceed hull speed.

And with wind power, the sails will rip themselves to shreds or the vessel
will be dismasted before the boat will exceed hull speed by any significant
degree.

Can displacement vessels exceed hull speed? Yes, but...