Olympic dinghies tested at SSPA

Chalmers, Sports & Technology and SSPA collaborates with several Swedish national team sailors and Olympic aspirants for Tokyo 2020. Some of the sailors are students at Chalmers and part of Riksidrottsuniversitet. In the Olympic classes athletes constantly strive to improve performance. To achieve this, they can either make changes on the dinghy or the way they sail. The hydrodynamic experts at SSPA performs different tests in the 260 metres long towing tank.

The purpose of the testing for the strict one-design classes is to improve the way the boats are sailed, by reducing hydrodynamic resistance and thus improving performance. The purpose for the other Olympic classes (with development allowed within defined limits) is to evaluate equipment from different suppliers, and suggest improvements to current equipment or to assist in development equipment. However, for the development classes the way the boats are sailed is equally important and this area will also be explored.

In some of the Olympic classes, for example 470 and Finns, the dinghies can be changed within certain tolerances. In other classes as 49’er, 49’er FX, Laser, Laser Radial, Nacra no changes on the dinghies are allowed. The tests for these classes focuses on how to sail the dinghies to achieve a higher performance.

— “It is very well suited to carry out these tests at SSPAs towing tank, because here we can perform experiments, within a controlled environment”, says Christian Finnsgård, Senior researcher and project manager and at SSPA. 

Tests on 49’er – optimal position for the sailors, in different speed ranges

Team Wester Netzler is Klara Wester and Rebecca Netzler. They are sailors in the Olympic class 49’er FX. They are aiming for the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. Klara and Rebecca have allowed SSPA to use their 49’er to perform some of the tests. The 49’er is sailed by two sailors and the hull of a 49’er and a 49’er FX is the same but the 49’er is an Olympic class for men and the 49’er FX for women. No changes on the dinghies are allowed for the 49’er and for the 49’er FX so the tests that are performed at SSPA, focus on how to sail the dinghy to achieve a higher performance. It is very important how the sailors are positioned, as the trim of the hull has an effect on the hydrodynamic resistance. SSPA will investigate the relation between trim and hydrodynamic resistance at different speeds. 

— “We are now investigating the trim, how the dinghy will get the smallest possible resistance in the water. It makes a big difference if the sailors have the right trim. Hopefully we will be able to determine which angle is the optimal for different speeds through these tests”, Christian Finnsgård continues.

Today the best sailors rely on experience and feel. Klara and Rebecca are very curious to know what new knowledge and insights the collaboration with hydrodynamic experts at SSPA will give them.

— “It will be very valuable to scientific know where the body weight should be and which angle in the longitudinal direction that is the most effective in different speeds” says Klara. “And when we know this we can continue to practice” adds Rebecca.

To understand what they are talking about, take a look at this pure action clip from Team Wester Netzler.

Photos

Tests with the 49’er in the 260 metres long towing tank at SSPA.

​SSPAs experts Matz Brown and Adam Persson prepares the 49 FX for the hydrodynamic tests. Adam is also a Ph.D. candidate at Chalmers University of Technology.

Team Wester Netzler allowed SSPA to use their 49’er “Glenn” to perform some of the tests. They are very curious to know what can be done in a towing tank to provide new insights for them. (For those of you familiar with Gothenburg or Liverpool for that matter, Glenn has a very special meaning).

It is very well suited to carry out these tests at SSPAs towing tank, because here we can perform experiments, within a controlled environment, says Christian Finnsgård, Senior researcher and project manager and at SSPA. Christian has a background in research mainly focused on logistics and supply chain management. Since joining SSPA in 2014, he has been involved in projects ranging from logistics solutions for shipping, slow-steaming, short sea shipping and city logistics, to research in sports.

Photos: Anders Mikaelsson