Just reading up on golf ball dimples They evidently create a thin layer of
turbulence that keeps the laminar flow from breaking away longer reducing
the turbulent area behind the ball. Discounting the Magnus effect because
a hull does not (normally) spin, the result is less drag.

That said, it seems to follow that dimples on the mast would hold the air
flow around it further aft reducing the turbulence on the luff of the main.
Probably not much but then the big racers cut their toothbrushes in half...
:-)

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

wrote in message
...
On Aug 16, 6:21 pm, (Martin Schöön) wrote:
"Glenn Ashmore" writes:


It is the other way around actually. The dimples of golf balls are
there to trip the boundary layer to make sure you get rid of the
laminar boundary layer.

--
If you google riblets you will find the 3M product as an adhesive
application. These were banned by the AC and the accompanying "go-fast"
solution. This was in the days of "national origin" of equipment