Pitch pole
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:08 am
We all know what is meant by a pitch pole. We also know it's caused by failing to move one's weight aft when "on a close reach". But why, in technical-speak, does a Sprint 15 behave in this way?
Here's my theory.
The centre of effort in a sail is always going to be above the centre of gravity.
As the wind increases the turning moment induced by this difference in centres increases.
You can counteract that by moving back further, sticking your leg out and dragging your leg but eventually the force of the wind is too much to counteract and you have to go for a swim.
Not just us.
