Speed Windsurfing: Modeling and Numerics

Abstract

We consider the following problem: Given a finite number of sails of different sizes with prescribed shapes, given the speed of the wind, the weight of a surfer, the size and shape of a surfboard and a corresponding fin; determine the sail and the course such that the windsurfer achieves maximal speed. We develop a simple model for describing the movement of the windsurfer for maximizing the speed in terms of a nonlinear ODE (ordinary differential equation). We conclude with the presentation of corresponding numerical results, some remarks on their validation and more involved models.