Sport Levels 3-4
Sailing with Maths
You need a protractor a calculator (optional)
square grid paper a ruler a sharp pencil
This activity gives you some idea of the mathematical calculations involved
in sailing in races such as the America’s Cup.
When NZL60 is sailing to windward, it is heading at the
closest angle to the wind that it can.
Nautical terms you will need: If the yacht tried to sail at a tighter angle, it would eventually
buoys: anchored markers stop dead in its tracks. That is why tacking is used.
legs (of the race): the distance from the northerly wind wind wind
start / finish line to the A or B buoy or from
one buoy to the other
port: the left side of the course according
to the way the yacht is facing
starboard: the right side of the course
according to the way the yacht is facing
windward: the side that the wind is
this rather than this or this: stopped!
blowing towards
downwind: in the direction in which Activity
the wind is blowing
To join NZL60 on its training run, you need to
rhumb line (pronounced “rum”): know that a knot is a measure of boat speed:
the shortest distance between the
1 knot is 1 nautical mile (1 852 metres)
buoys on the course
per hour.
tacking: zigzag manoeuvres
1. The diagram on page 19 shows the
America’s Cup 2000 course. The race
had six legs. Use the measurements on
the diagram to work out the total length
of the course in metres. (This does not
include tacking or rounding the buoys.)
2. If NZL60 travelled in a straight line at
an average speed of 7 knots, how far
would it go in 5 minutes? (Give your
answer in metres.)
18 Using scale and compass directions
wind direction
3. On your square grid paper, use a scale of North 360°
60 millimetres : 1 852 metres (1 nautical mile).
Mark the following on your page:
the A and B buoys
the start and finish line
the committee boat A
the rhumb line.
Now draw an arrow at the top to show the
wind coming directly from the north (down
the page).
4. Plot NZL60’s first training leg by following
these instructions and drawing the yacht’s
journey on your grid paper. 1 2 leg 1 : 3.25 nm
a. Start where the committee boat touches 3 4 leg 2 : 3.00 nm
the start line. Draw NZL60’s first tack 5 6 leg 3 : 3.00 nm
3 nm
out to the port side of the course at leg 4 : 3.00 nm
45 degrees to the rhumb line for leg 5 : 3.00 nm
926 metres. leg 6 : 3.25 nm
b. Turn 90 degrees to starboard and sail
for 1 852 metres.
c. Design a path into the wind that will
take NZL60 to A buoy, making sure
that each turn (to port or starboard)
is 90 degrees. B
Compare your course with a
classmate’s.
start finish
5. Leg 2 is downwind. Discuss with a
classmate how this would affect speed committee boat
and tacking.
1 nautical mile (nm) = 1 852 metres
19