Most polar diagrams will indicate the optimum downwind angle for a given wind speed. In
the case of my old Nonsuch, 180 is always the optimum angle, but for many other boats,
tacking downwind works. especially in lighter air.



"Gerard Weatherby" wrote in message
...
There's an article on sailnet (
http://www.sailnet.com/collections/a...2%20%20&tfr=fp
or http://tinyurl.com/h9z6 ) which claims it's faster to tack downwind on broad
reaches instead of running straight downwind. (Assuming you want to get dead
downwind.) Have those of you who sail found this to be true? Let's assume
there's no spinnaker since I don't have one.

S/V Cat's Meow
http://www.catsmeow.org