‘Downwind Faster than the Wind’ is a ground breaking and intriguing book by Nicholas Landell-Mills, an independent researcher in applied physics, which explores the theory of sailing in a new and perhaps controversial way that breaks with established models.
His analysis refutes several assumptions by showing that fluid mechanics fails to explain the forces on a sail, that a sail is not a wing, and the main force created is not perpendicular to the sail.
Subtitled, ‘Sailing explained by Newtonian physics and Galilean relativity’ Landell-Mills says the Newtonian approach is significant as it provides new and useful insights challenging the prevailing sailing solutions based on fluid mechanics and resolving long-running nautical conundrums, including how a boat can sail downwind faster than the wind.
For the full review, see: https://mailchi.mp/9f29d3963462/new-book-downwind-faster-than-the-wind?e=aaa023c7fa
– Boatswain Books
