The Science of Sailing

Harvard FAS

In this seminar, we explore how to use simple physics to understand a range of natural phenomena associated with sailing. Beginning with a discussion of hydrostatics and stability, the seminar moves on to explore in depth the generation of lift and drag by the flow of air over sails and the flow of water over keels and rudders, examining critically the numerous incorrect explanations in the popular literature. We also examine the environment in which a sailboat operates, discussing…