The development and use of sailing simulation for IACC starting manoeuvre training

Sailing simulation has rapidly evolved over the last twenty years to be a useful tool in design optimisation, design evaluation, human factor analysis and beginner sailor training. The research work detailed in this paper explains a systematic approach to the development of a sailing simulation system suitable for use by elite sailor in the preparation of starting manoeuvres. An advanced velocity prediction programme was used to simulate the steady state force balance based on towing tank and wind tunnel experiments. The dynamic terms in the equations have been estimated by a systematic series of full scale tests of increasing complexity. The final simulation was incorporated into existing race analysis software permitting its use by professional sailors without the need for learning additional software skills.