An improved procedure for strongly coupled prediction of sailing yacht performance

Journal article, 2021

In this paper, an improved procedure for strongly coupled prediction of sailing yacht performance is developed. The procedure uses 3D RANS CFD to compute the hydrodynamic forces. When coupled to a rigid body motion solver and a sail force model, along with a rudder control algorithm, this allows sailing yacht performance to be predicted within CFD software. The procedure provides improved convergence when compared to a previously published method. The grid motion scheme, partially using overset grid techniques, means that correct alignment between the free surface and the background grid is ensured even at large heel angles. The capabilities are demonstrated with performance predictions for the SYRF 14 m yacht, at one true wind speed, over a range of true wind angles, with up- and downwind sailsets. The results are compared to predictions from the ORC-VPP for a yacht with similar main particulars.