Re:How a yacht works: sailboat physics and design
by Xylakant on Friday April 18, 2025 @02:05PM
(#43730455)
My teacher in sailing/motorboat school always said that they can spot the accident minutes before it happens.
Re:How a yacht works: sailboat physics and design
by glitchcrab on Friday April 18, 2025 @05:44PM
(#43732128)
I've been teaching dinghy sailing since I turned 18 (20 years now, give or take) as a voluntary position in a youth group and whilst the fundamentals of sailing yachts and dinghies are much the same, dinghy sailing is a much more dynamic and (oftentimes more fun) discipline. For example, whilst it's true that there's no brake on a yacht (save for backing your motor hard astern), in a dinghy you have the ability to do stuff like backing the sail which gives you much more control. It's _so_ satisfying when it's blowing hard to come steaming up towards a safety RIB then turn head to wind at the last moment, back the sail hard (literally push the boom over), jump onto the foredeck and then step off into the safety boat with the painter in your hand.
Close to other boats and rocks and other hazards it takes some practice. Pros can to sail into the harbor, luff up and grab the buoy without touching the engine.
Having no brakes really teaches you to plan ahead.