Wing sails to become more common?

   While the wing-sailed Optimist is clearly just a bit of fun and the Charlie McKee using a wing-sail at the International Moth worlds didn't go that well, do you think that wings will eventually trickle down to be used in mainstream sailing? Or are the impracticalities, such as transport, storage and maintainance just going to keep them always as esoteric products, only used in high-end events?

Is there a half-way house that could be used? Something that bridges the gap between a wing-mast and a wing-sail?

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Mark Jardine Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 12 Mar 04 Location: Milford-on-Sea, United King Online Status: Offline Posts: 1028	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mark Jardine Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Wing sails to become more common? Posted: 03 May 11 at 8:24am
	While the wing-sailed Optimist is clearly just a bit of fun and the Charlie McKee using a wing-sail at the International Moth worlds didn't go that well, do you think that wings will eventually trickle down to be used in mainstream sailing? Or are the impracticalities, such as transport, storage and maintainance just going to keep them always as esoteric products, only used in high-end events? Is there a half-way house that could be used? Something that bridges the gap between a wing-mast and a wing-sail?

alstorer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899	Post Options Post Reply Quote alstorer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 11 at 8:49am
	I reckon the storage and transport will stop them. Look at the Moths- one of their objections is that it turns the boat from something that can be shoved on the roof or packed into a couple of coffins into a boat that requires container transport- even for short journeys.
	-_ Al

bert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Apr 05 Location: norwich usually Online Status: Offline Posts: 584	Post Options Post Reply Quote bert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 11 at 10:04am
	Certainly from MY point of view it would stop me from buying whatever boat due to price,transport,extra hassle for extra performace?. Most boats have sails that are pretty much opitized for the boats they are fitted on,so that leaves a new design of boat & sail - a new class. Not for me thanks
	Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586

Foiling_Toff Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 30 Mar 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 113	Post Options Post Reply Quote Foiling_Toff Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 11 at 10:54am
	Really can't see it being worthwhile for the vast majority, myself included.

RobbieP94 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 27 Aug 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Post Options Post Reply Quote RobbieP94 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 11 at 4:06pm
	well i do see the major flaws in the wing at the moment mainly cost to purchase,repair,store and transport however it's not a new technology just look back to the 1988 Americas cup and how stars and stripes used one i do believe they will become more practical and feasible over time there are some pretty smart brains out their that will come up with a solution it will just take time i am very open to the idea and would love to learn to sail a wing
	Laser GXD 184358 I14 1395 (crew) RS200 352 (crew) Coribee Keelboat (helm)

Foiling_Toff Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 30 Mar 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 113	Post Options Post Reply Quote Foiling_Toff Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 11 at 5:18pm
	I think could become more common at a professional level. I was very skeptical of the new AC rules, but I have to say those AC45s don't look half bad. They seem to deal with capsizes much better than the extreme 40s. For the average dinghy sailor I'd say that storage is as big a problem as any. It would put an end to club sailing I'd imagine.

Hughph Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 13 Oct 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 324	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hughph Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 May 11 at 8:47pm
	But, what would the feasibility of a 3 part wing be? Something that say slotted onto a carbon mast, and fitted together would certainly reduce storage- So you would have the top,middle and bottom slotting together and solving the storage problem? I'm sure that would work with storage reduced from a container to not much more than what we have already... From the Y&Y article- 'a designer with ORACLE Racing. “The top section of our A-class catamaran wing is removable,' Edited by Hughph - 11 May 11 at 8:50pm

Laser 173312 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 416	Post Options Post Reply Quote Laser 173312 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 May 11 at 10:11am
	I think Hugh may be on to some thing there if a wing sail can be built that is easily dismantled for storage and assembled in a reasonable time it could be feasible. However I’m not sure about retro fitting to existing boats as I’m sure the mass of a wing sail is much greater than a soft sail. So your going to need a much stronger mast step, no problem on a new boat designed with a wing sail in mind, but a whole different ball game on an existing design.

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 May 11 at 10:21am
	Even in 3 sections where are you going to store it? Its far too fragile to be dumped under a cover.