gdorfman wrote:i have reviewed #1, and i believe the sails must be on the top spokes, not the bottom ones. otherwise it will go backwards and upwind.
Nope. All points above the axle are going faster than the cart. All points below the axle are going slower (but in the same direction) as the cart. Go out to the garage and push on the spokes of your bicycle. Push the middle of the spoke below the axle and you'll see that the bike moves in the direction you push, but at twice the speed as your hand moves as you push. This will only work for a few inches as the spoke will quickly cease to be the bottom spoke. Then you have to move to the new bottom spoke and do the same thing.
gdorfman wrote: this is not complicated. are you trying to trick me?
On the contrary. I'm trying every way I know how to make this as clear as possible.
i do not have a yo yo. isn't it just a fixed axel, or is it complicated?
It's no differnt than your bike wheel in this respect. Not complicated.
i guess that you are saying that even though the kite/parachute is flying slower than the object it's fixed to, the lines don't slacken and it doesn't fall down, because the lines are being reeled in. but that entails work and i think breaks the argument. i can winch a car downwind at infinite times the wind speed.
Sorry, now I'm lost.
for 3, i don't understand your "spiralling 45 degree downwind path" do you mean the path of the blades or the actual vehicle?
This is the path of the tips of the blades. By changing the gearing you can change the angle at which they spiral downwind. If you were to construct such a vehicle (which has been done) you'd also want to make the blades variable pitch so you could optimize them as you approached and passed the wind speed.
i still disagree your current example is relevant. upwind is easy...
OK. Let's take it in pieces. If you are floating in a current of 10 knots, but there is 0 knots of true wind, do you agree that you could raise your sails and tack into the apparent wind? Do you agree that you'd reach your destination before the water around you?
can a fast boat in 0 wind and 10kts current, hold it's place in respect to the ground?
I don't think so.
fxeric wrote:you can't sail downwind faster then true windspeed
Really? That's your whole argument? I've posted 5 example of how you can do this in great detail. "No you can't" is your counter argument?
not to get off the topic but can you sail directly upwind?
Of course.