SD2706 Sailing for Performance 6.0 credits

The course addresses the mechanics of sailing in general applicable to all kinds of sailing vessels. The basic forces, moments and equilibriums are investigated to determine the performance of the vessel in various conditions. The course treats virtually all aspects of a the performance of a sailing vessel ranging from hydromechanics, aerodynamics, wave making resistance, modeling of equilibrium, definition of numerical solving of the non linear equations of equilibrium etc.

After the course the student shall:

• know and be able to describe the fundamental concept of sailing
• be able to model the basic force/moment equilibriums of sailing
• be able to describe the various sources of resistance of a hull
• be able to describe the behavior of lifting foils
• be able to implement the mechanical model and solve the equilibrium equations of a sailboat in a velocity prediction program (VPP)
• be able to optimize the performance of a sailboat given a set of suitable constraints
• describe methods of deterministic weather routing, e.g. by dynamic programming
• know of state-of-the-art methods for VPP in yacht design

The course is aimed at students in the first or second year at a Masters program in engineering. Bachelor of engineering with working knowledge in Matlab, mechanics, algebra and calculus is required.

English B / English 6

Base programme T, M, P, F or equivalent.

Fossati, Fabio, Aero-Hydrodynamics and the Performance of Sailing Yachts, Adlard Coles Nautical, ISBN 978-1-4081-1338-7, 2009

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• RAPP - Report, 6.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Final project with report and oral presentation. 

Jakob Kuttenkeuler

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.

The course will be given after agreement with the examiner.