[Zanni]

I knew someone would make this comment. I love HN for this kind of pedantry when it's specific, accurate and doesn't dismiss the entire article for one inaccurate analogy.

[jws]

Also, "broad reach" would like a word with lfnoise. (It's complicated.)

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/186515/why-is-a-...

[bmm6o]

The polar diagram shown there is what should replace the ellipse in TFA. It's far more complicated than a simple geometric shape since it has to account for such practicalities as sail inventory.

[lfnoise]

I also knew that someone was going to comment the the beam reach was not necessarily the fastest.