Physics of Sailing
by Kimball, John
Provides a broad-based, widely accessible introduction to the basic science underlying the sport of sailing. It illustrates the many ways physics can be used to understand the principles of sailboats’ propulsion, how sailing has developed in parallel with scientific ideas, and how a scientific understanding of the boat, wind, and water can lead to more skillful sailing. Kimball explains the physical principles that inform efficient design of a sailboat and presents the essential scientific knowledge a sailor needs for optimal decision making, including how the physics of the sky, the weather, the wind, and the waves influence performance in a race or on a recreational outing.