HYDRODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF NEIL PRYDE RS: X AND MISTRAL SAILBOARD

Abstract

After Olympic Games in 2004, the once used board, MISTRAL (M), in Olympic Game has been substituted with NEIL PRYDE RS：X (NP). To meet the need of the national sailing team, the research group carried out the experiments on the hydrodynamic performance of the NP and M early or later. The resistances, transverse forces and wrest moments were measured by using the balance of the trisection force, the angle of the heel and pitch was measured by using the angle sensor. The sailboard could rise and sink freely, the pitch was free, the static angle could be adjusted by utilizing the weight and the balance was at the mast. The results showed that the resistance of NP sailboard was bigger as soon as the pitch angle was bigger and this was the same as that of M sailboard, the heel did not have any influence on the resistance of NP sailboard, the resistance became small continuously when the angle of the centerboard decreased and the resistance increased as the sailboard was heavier.