Advanced Sailing

This page is a Work in Progress

## Disclaimer

This guide aims to provide the reader with knowledge of advanced sailing techniques. The techniques described below might not be applicable within the game Sailwind, and might never be implemented.

## **Setting Sails for pros**

### General considerations

As the wind transfers its momentum to the sails, sailors need to make the most of it by setting sails accordingly. The highest top speeds can be achieved on broad reach, though any angle up to close hauled can provide forwards momentum. The angle with the highest speed and the minimum angle a ship can sail to the wind direction depends on the sail types used and their arrangement.

The wind in Square rigs should always be 90° perpendicular, if possible. Lateen sails benefit from a slight angle forward, if possible. Gaff sails are most effective with winds coming from either side or the rear, not so much if the wind is in front of the ship at any angle.

Generally the way you set your sails and let them catch or not let them catch wind affects forces on the sails. It would technically be totally possible to turn a 3-mast ship without using the rudder and only it's square sails.

### Leeway

Because of these forces, especially if the wind is coming from the sides, you don't always build mainly forward momentum, but sideways momentum as well. This force on the sails pushes the vessel either left or right, which can result in drifting away from the wind — called "leeway." You can use this to your advantage on a double masted ship, if you keep one sail out of the wind when turning to improve the turn circle.

### In example: Tacking in the real world (Said scenarios aren't useful yet, but explain how force on sails work):

#### You want to turn your 3 mast square sail ship towards where the wind is blowing:

> Your rear sails are having the most authority, as the front will will be mostly out of the wind. Therefore you always keep them close to the wind, to the optimal 90° angle where they catch the most wind being the most effective. Also you want to turn your front mast that way, so they catch the least amount of wind. This exerts force on the stern of the ship, making it turn quick. During the turn you would furl staysails to stop sideways momentum to keep the turn circle tight.
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#### You want to turn your 3 mast square sail ship against the wind:

> If possible, you would hold 90° course to gain some speed, if you don't have any. It isn't necessary but helps during the turn to have authority with the rudder as long as possible. Of course you would unfurl all sails available, even staysails. Against the wind, your front sail has the most authority. You will come to a standstill and will eventually go backwards, so you need your front sail to push you out of the wind. You'd set your rear two masts as far into the turn direction as possible and the front mast as far against turn direction. After that you will set your rudder full to the turn direction. Eventually you will stop and that requires to turn your rudder full in the opposite direction. Eventually you will go forward again, you will again reverse steering direction until you're 90° to the wind where you can set your masts accordingly to keep sailing.
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After this explanation, you should be able to always keep in mind how the wind is pushing into the sail and what forces are applied how to it.