To curl or not to curl : wind tunnel investigation of spinnaker performance

Abstract

This work presents a wind tunnel experimental study of the effect of curling on the spinnaker aerodynamic performance. Four spinnakers combining two different panellings and sail materials are tested at different wind speeds and wind angles in the Twisted Flow Wind Tunnel of the University of Auckland. Results show that the curling has a significant benefit on the propulsive force at an AWA 100° when this conclusion cannot be made at lower AWA where the best propulsive force is reached on the verge of curling or before. Sail material and panelling have an effect on the sheet length where curling appears, stiffer material and cross cut panelling being the latest to curl. Finally, it is shown that the curling frequency increased linearly with the flow speed at AWA = 120°.