Star sails
WB-Sails initiated a thorough, scientifical research & development programme around Star sails in 2005. The goal was to improve on the designs shaped through a century long trial-and-error process, by the most talented sailmakers and sailors in the world.
For the R&D program, a novel system with three syncronized video cameras was developed, to study the dynamics of the rig and the sails: One camera at the masthead, one on the foredeck and one outside the boat. WB-Sails CFD-flow simulations were used in to optimize the shape different conditions. Read more in "Developing sails for the Olympic sailors" in our archive.
The all-purpose main features a radial clew and head. There are two jibs, light-medium and medium-heavy. The Olympics gold medal jib is all radial.
Below: Fredrik Lööf and Max Salminen winning the Olympic gold in London 2012.
Video: Simulation of turbulence around a Star sailing in waves.
