What if you could superimpose any airfoil onto a sail? Would this be usefull? Instead of using the airfoils in the building boards that are out there? And not building a whole new board for every one, just a template.

Mike

Thats pretty much how its done.  <div>A panelled sail is cut and joined according to a template to give a required basic shape.  Afterwards, the required aerofoil is adjusted in by tweaking the bits of string around the corners and those controlling the boom and mast shape.  This works for single sheet sails as well.</div><div>Rigid wings are something else again, but all of them need to work both sides, unless the boat is only going one way.</div>

Have a look here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=798753

Be sure to look at the sections for "claudio's gadget".

Edward.

Ok guys I done all this and got sails I wasn't happy with. Sail boards, camber boards, sail blocks . and Claudio's gadget. What I am doing now is taking an airfoil angleing it a degree or two from vertical and tracing the pattern. This produces a very nice curve to be transfered to the sail and it works very well. Should I keep this to myself or share it ?

Mike

I'm interested in hearing more, Mike.

The sails on my 12 and my 36/600 were designed for the boats at an Anapolis sail loft a long while ago and sewn up on a home machine no boards, jigs, etc... the panel geometry was designed, lofted, and cut and then the panels were joined.

I think it was a little like meteorolgy... a bit of science mixed with a bit of art. The artsy part wasn't passed on to me, so an approach like yours sounds like it might be good as a doable way to simulate it

Ok Mike, I'll bite. Show us your way of making better sails ( with pics, please ).

Hello Mike? I am still interested in your idea, and it may help some others out, too. Have you done anything more with the airfoil idea?