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The video shows them using a "tailplane" on the main sail, presumably to adjust sail angle without needing sheets, etc. Is this used in normal sailing? It seem

• slowhand09 4y ago
  Normal sailing require many more adjustments to shape than just sheeting angle. On a typical boat the backstay, a component of the rigging would interfere. There are many sailboats without backstays, but not a likely scenario for nrmal sailing.
• trillic 4y ago
  On a Bermuda-rigged sloop ideally the jib and the main balance each-other out such that the amount of rudder drag introduced in order to maintain a constant course is minimized. This requires sheet, sheeting angle halyard, and potentially even a cunningham on the tack to adjust the sail shape. When you're doing a speed record, sail shape is likely gonna be decided in a meeting room, not out on the "Water". With the speeds on this thing It's more akin to a Moth's wand adjusting the foil flap automatically. Larger foiling boats have a flight controller hand control the foil and flaps by hand. Using human power to adjust the sail is more efficient (for the boat) than introducing more sail area and therefore more drag to trim the sail automatically. In the case of this vehicle, the foil and adjuster thing behind the pivot point are both incredibly efficient high-aspect foils, as well as all the hardware which controls it are being engineered and rigged "pre-trimmed" for the specific wind speed planned to attempt this record.