The Wing

The main and highly visible difference from a traditional spinnaker is the opening in the spinnaker of the Parasailor and the pressure-inflated wing. The wing has basically two purposes:

• 1.The flow of air over the wing produces upwards directed lift. Absolute force directed upward and forward results from the increased angle of attack. The forward motion and lift produced by the three-dimensional wing more than offsets the loss in surface area which necessarily results from the opening. This prevents a loss of forward motion.
• 2.The air-filled wing provides considerable horizontal strengthening. The sides are actively prevented from collapsing but, if they should nevertheless do so, e.g. because the wind veers, the shock on re-inflation typical for a spinnaker does not occur. This is achieved by a complex arrangement of “cross-ports” in the wing which balance the air pressure, allowing air to flow from one part of the wing to another, making a smooth re-opening possible.

The Opening

A further important feature of our sail is the opening. Firstly, it ensures that air flows over the wing and secondly it functions as a pressure-relief valve. Any gusts which occur are diverted by it and hit the wing. More lift is produced temporarily by the increased current. This significantly relieves the pressure on the bow and rolling and pitching motions are also reduced markedly. Furthermore, this unique structure increases the wind’s range of use. The parasailor can thus be used in a much greater wind range than other spinnaker on the market.

More information

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