How does a sailboat go against the wind?

Sailboat design has never stopped evolving. If before the boats moved only with the force of the downwind, now they move in the opposite direction of the wind.

How does the sailboat move against the wind?

To better understand the ability of a sailboat moving against the wind, it is important to first see how it behaves in the water.

The gazes of the sailboat in the sea

The navigator adopts the most suitable navigation techniques according to the wind. We talk about the rhythm or sailing closely when the direction of the wind comes from the front of the sailboat. The sailor opts for this technique to move his boat forward when he is close to the wind. When the wind comes from the bow side of the sailboat, and the gap between the wind and the sailboat is less than 45 °, the latter can no longer advance.

We evoke the look of the sail when the wind picks up the side of the sailboat. The sailboat’s position is perpendicular to the wind and it moves faster. Downwind sailing occurs when the wind enters from behind and pushes the sailboat back. This type of walking is the most comfortable since the sailboat advances at an ideal speed.

There is also the sailboat at full capacity when the wind comes from the fr

ont. The behavior of the sailboat changes when it moves away towards 60 ° from the axis of the wind. The pace is quite fast, but comfortable. Full sailing allows the sailboat to maintain the ideal wind blow.

Some notions on the wind side

On board a sailboat, the name of the windward side is different. We speak of edge when the wind comes from the right or left edge of the sailboat. Sailors use the term port when the sailboat receives wind from the left side. We pronounce starboard when the wind blows from the right side of the sailboat.

Why is the sailboat moving against the wind?

If we talk about a simple boat without a sail, it remains immobile when the wind blows. On the other hand, if it is equipped with a sail, it is subjected to two types of force, namely the veil thrust and the drift force.

The thrust of the veil allows the sailboat to move against the wind. Rudder force occurs when the rudder and rudder form a force called “Anti-Drift”. This force prevents the sailboat from sinking. When a sailboat advances against the wind, its movement is against the sea water, it is mainly the presence of the keel or the centerboard that allows a sailboat to navigate against the wind. When the sailboat is on board upwind, there are two ways to get on it.

It is necessary to reduce the contact of drift in the water. When the intensity of the blowing wind is stronger, reduce the list. This also has no effect on the anti-drift force as it optimizes the forward speed of the sailboat.