It is possible to design watercraft that will travel exactly where wind come from.

Using wind turbine with horizontal or vertical axis that power propeller in the water that boat should be able to have net resultant force propelling craft straight up the wind.

I wonder if is even theoretically possible to design such a sails configuration that do this same ?

I can imagine the closest to ideal could be configuration of two kites flying 8 figure always on opposite wind direction with resultant vector straigh forward...

Can't do this same with sails I am affraid



But if future Americas Cup allow all tricks the question is if such a boat will be eventually quicker on the race ? ( travelling straight up the wind ? )

If kites are still not allowed on Americas Cup ( why not ? ) the small guile with sort of pair flying spinakers shoud do the trick ...

the c class cats they use (or used to) for the little americas cup series have a solid wing sail. they go almost directly upwind at speed. it's not dead upwind but damn close.

kiteboy dave said...

Good question! Kinda linked to the 'downwind faster than the wind' experiment they did a year or two ago. The answer was yes, you can clearly go straight downwind, powered only by the wind, much faster than the wind.

His next challenge actually is sailing dead upwind, faster than the wind.

Dunno what all the fuss is about.
I can sail dead upwind on wave gear. Only for about 2 metres though........