Re: [Paddlewise] Ferry gliding with the wind = Cross-wind ferry

PeterO wrote:

>Does this mean you can use the wind to ferry glide as well as current?
>I love the idea of using weather cocking to good effect!
>
>I'm a bit confused on ferry gliding - is it simply using the result of the
>vector addition of the velocity due to water current and the velocity in the
>direction being paddled. Or is it something much more hydrodynamically
>subtle?

A ferry in a current and a cross-wind ferry are based on the same
principle: compensating sideways forces on the boat by angling to
that force. But an important difference is that in a current you
better lean the boat downstream, and in a cross-wind ferry it is
better to lean (a bit) upwind.

Ferry gliding is a more British term for ferrying, which has the
misleading assumption that the work of this action is done by the
current, or in this case the wind. However this is not the case, as
the work has to be done the paddler. And for those who will not believe
that: stop paddling in such a situation, and see what happens...

Dirk Barends


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