Dynamic interaction of breaking waves and inverted sailing yachts: Explaining the efficacy of mast height retention relative to vertical centre of gravity

The ability of a sailing yacht to re-right due to the effect of a breaking wave is investigated experimentally. Free and constrained physical models with varying mast height and centre of gravity were tested. To investigate the influence of retained mast height on sway force and roll moment, models were constrained by attachment to a force balance for sway motion tests in calm water and stationary tests in regular and breaking waves. Free model testing, with varying mast height and centre of gravity position, were carried out in breaking waves. For these tests, model motions in six degrees of freedom were measured using photogrammetry. The constrained tests showed that while the mast height had little effect on forces when stationary in waves it had a large effect when in sway motion. As models experience large sway motions when subject to a breaking wave the mast remnant plays a critical role in re-righting dynamics. This work demonstrates that re-righting probability is more dependent on mast height retention and wave characteristics than vertical centre of gravity. This conclusion has direct implications on re-righting safety assessment as the dominant design feature in most safety standards is the vertical centre of gravity.