your yacht is just about right

Thanks you two, real helpful!

Squishman,
The most sensible explanation I can think of incorporates Lachies theory, Yes the wind is constantly trying to drop you on your side therefore you counter it and motivate forward. The stiffer the mast the and the higher the wind, the more likely you are to tip over. Which in itself relies on your astuteness in reflex control.
I find with the Windsurfer 100% CF Mast it is stiff enough to be able to get good speed but soft enough to absorb any heavy Gusts, this in turn is then transferred back to the wheels in a more friendly manor. A stiff mast will give you good speed but your reactions will have to be pretty much spot on and with Dust Devils/Willy Willies you don't have much of a show. TP1 demonstrated it and he is an Old Fart with a lot off experience. In short you have to make a decision as too where you want to go.
Think about it and use your "What a Dog knows, how to re procreate with"
Stay Upright
Ron

Sorry Squish, you caught me on a funny day.



No I don't have an intelligent answer to your question

One could say we fly the wing on it's side. The principle is exactly the same. Half a Hang Glider on wheels.
Ron

Since geometry is the topic, is there a rule of thumb about the relationship between axle width and wheelbase? How does a 'long but relatively narrow' yacht differ in handling, stability and other ways from a 'short but wide' one?

That makes perfect sense, thanks very much.

I have seen that diagram a couple of times in my travels through the forum and one thing has always puzzled me. Why is the arrow from the cg drawn perpendicular to the roll axis? Would it not be more useful to represent the force from the centre of effort of the sail to the roll axis (which I imagine is always acting in much the same direction relative to the centreline of the yacht for any of these configurations, if they are all sheeted in hard)?

OK! So how would all this be affected by different wind directions ? Let us say directly along the Roll axis or opposite??
Ron

Assuming that the true wind is coming from the Starboard quarter at 40deg. Where would the Apparent wind be working from? Directly opposite?? Or does this question lie in the sail shape??
Ron

This is the best explanation of "Apparent wind" and land sailing that I have found.

www.greenbird.co.uk/about-the-greenbird/how-it-works