JGWeissman comments on The Correct Contrarian Cluster - Less Wrong

38 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 21 December 2009 10:01PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (228)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: PhilGoetz 23 December 2009 03:02:11PM 0 points [-]

In the situation you described, the apparent wind is travelling from the tail of the sail to the front, in the opposite direction you would need for it to provide thrust. There is an apparent wind, and you do trim the sail in response to it, but it doesn't provide thrust when you're going downwind.

Comment author: JGWeissman 23 December 2009 07:05:17PM *  1 point [-]

No, in the situation I described, the apparent wind flows from the luff (leading edge) to the leach (trailing edge) of the sail. I have actually done this. I will see if I can produce a diagram later tonight.

Edit: Here is the diagram:

Comment author: PhilGoetz 23 December 2009 11:25:46PM *  2 points [-]

You're right.