I'm not the person to ask why. However I understand that they point higher
and are much more efficient. This concept isn't out in left field.
Remember the America's Cup catamaran with a solid wing sail?


"StellaStar" wrote in message
...
I'm building a foam core solid wing
for an iceboat/land yacht.

I'm curious...aside from the discussion of "luff tension" et al, what's
the
benefit of a solid sail?

My dad built an iceboat and I have vivid early-childhood memories of
skimming
along, face inches from the ice of the lake, going at what seemed a
terrific
rate of speed. Aside from the usual risk of getting clobbered by the boom
when
it comes around, managing the sail didn't seem to be a problem for him,
and I'd
think it would give you more versatility, not to mention being easy to
wrap up
and tote.