Re: Sailing Brain Teaser

Eric Pederson (eric@winternet.com)
Fri, 21 May 1999 08:55:57 -0500 (CDT)


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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It has been rumored that JBlumhorst@aol.com said:
>
> The first weekend Sailor #1 will sail from point A to point B on the river
> using one of the boats. The next weekend, Sailor #1 will use the same boat
> and sail the same course.
>
> The first weekend, there is a two knot current and a 2 knot wind going from
> Point A to Point B. Sailor #1 is sailing downstream and downwind.
>
> The second weekend, there is the same two knot current but the wind is
> absolutely dead. Sailor #2 is sailing downstream from point A to point B.

Sailor #1 will drift, since he's being carried by the current directly away
from and at the same speed as the wind. His apparent wind will be zero.

Sailor #2 will have 2kts of apparent wind from point B, since the current
is moving the boat through otherwise dead air. Assuming he has the sail area
to get steerage from 2 kts, and uses the light-air sail trimming tactics
that Judy recently outlined (*wink*), Sailor #2 will be enjoying a cold one
at the yacht club, courtesy of Sailor #1.

-- 
Eric L. Pederson
P-19 #970, Necessity
Bloomington, MN