On 2007-10-13 18:35:33 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
said:

Among other things, they claim to be able to create something from
nothing. The advert states, "Even in dead air the apparent wind when
motorsailing generates lift and reduces the amount of engine power
needed to maintain the same speed the engine would produce on its own."
Huh? Tell me I ain't dreaming . . .

Yup, that's advertising BS. If there's no wind, there won't be a
benefit while motor-sailing or any other condition.

Still, most of the time when there's too little wind for sailing,
motor-sailing will benefit from quite a few wind inputs. If nothing
else, having a sail aloft will dampen the boat's side-to-side motion
much of the time.

There are many times on the Chesapeake when having a sail up doesn't
mean squat as even a couple of knot's wind speed won't affect anything
at all.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/