How does a canting keel work?

A canting keel is a form of sailing ballast, suspended from a rigid canting strut beneath the boat, which can be swung to windward of a boat under sail, in order to counteract the heeling force of the sail. The canting keel must be able to pivot to either port or starboard, depending on the current tack.

Who invented the canting keel?

Incidentally, Pascal is the man who invented the first ever canting keel in 1982 at the age of 20, for a 5.5m plywood pocket racer. He was also the first to design kick-up rudders, an idea he worked on after seeing Isabelle Autissier put out of the Vendée Globe in 1996 by a rudder failure.

How does a keel generate lift?

A keel generates lift in the same way as a sail or an airplane wing. The keel generates this lift as the vessel moves and water flows over the keel. It would be difficult for a modern yacht to sail to windward without the lift generating forces from the keel.

What is a swing keel?

Swing keels are retractable keels that are hinged in the front and swing into a slot called a trunk. Sailors lift and lower the keel with a crank, pulley, or hydraulic system. Sailboats with swing keels can reduce their draft for shallow water sailing or to make them fit on a trailer.

What is a daggerboard on a catamaran?

A daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, countering the leeward push of the sail.

When your sails are set parallel to the keel?

fore-and-aft sail
fore-and-aft sail, one of the two basic types of sailing rig, the other being the square sail. The fore-and-aft sail, now usually triangular, is set completely aft of a mast or stay, parallel to the ship’s keel, and takes the wind on either side.

Is sailing upwind or downwind faster?

Is it Faster to Sail Upwind or Downwind? For most sailboats, downwind is a faster point of sail. This is because you can deploy your spinnaker, adding a lot more sail area, which moves the boat along better.

What type of keel is best?

A full keel is one of the most stable keel types, which is why it is so common. Full keels are also safer should you run aground. If a boat with a full keel should come ashore, it will cut its way through the sand and eventually land on its side.

What is a retractable keel?

A retractable keel is a full fin keel, where the whole thing (usually made of iron) retracts straight up into a well in the hull and/or cabin.