Quantum Sailsvideo
System Sailing 2.5 - Sail Shape
June 19, 2020 · 11 min · 2K views
What this video covers
Digitizing sail shape allows sailors to quantify performance and correlate specific trim settings with boat speed. To capture usable data, position a smartphone camera at mid-foot on the jib, keeping the device close to the sail to ensure all three draft stripes appear in the frame.2:40 Angle the camera so the luff runs across the frame to capture the full sail profile.2:48 After photographing the sail, photograph the instrument display to record the exact wind conditions.2:30 Use the VSpar program to digitize the image, which converts the three-dimensional sail shape into numerical data including draft depth, draft position, entry angle, and exit angle.4:54 Log these metrics, along with rig settings like jib lead, halyard tension, sheet trim, and backstay tension, into a shared Google Doc.7:24 Tracking these variables over time helps identify optimal trim patterns and detects sail stretch, allowing for timely adjustments or repairs.9:15 Consistent data collection transforms subjective performance feelings into actionable, repeatable tuning benchmarks.
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