Monday, March 14, 2016

forces - How to sail downwind faster than the wind?


Recently a group set a record for sailing a wind-powered land vehicle directly down wind, and a speed faster than wind speed. Wikipedia has a page talking about it, but it doesn't explain exactly how it works.


I can imagine some configurations, but I don't get how a system could be set up to push forward with a tailwind (when the cart is moving slower than the wind) and push forward with a head wind (when the cart is moving faster than the wind).


Could someone help explain how this is possible?




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