Re: How can sailboats sail directly downwind, faster than the wind?

hi,
        in laymans terms...:)...sailing down wind or running can become fun 
if
the drag is countered by enough lift/wind...consider the true wind
(vertically) and your speed (horizontally) on a vector diagram...
on this 90 degree angle APPARENT WIND will become the most important
energy source...just like holding your hand out of a car window at 10 mph
with the wind in your face at 5 mph, the apparent wind will be 15 mph...
I found this info at www.google.com.   or http://socrates.berkeley.e
du/~wprinz/Down.html

                             snorra@juno.com