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who invented sailing upwind?

steven

Sustaining Member
Does anyone know who/what/where invented the first boat that could sail to weather?

Just curious.

--Steve
 

AleksT

Member III
The earliest that I know of is the Egyptians with the Lanteen rig. That fore aft rig can sail decently to weather
 

rwthomas1

Sustaining Partner
Most historical evidence depicts square sails in the ancient world, Greek, Minoan, etc. The introduction of the lateen rig is hotly debated, among people who debate these things.... There is solid evidence of fore-and-aft rigs from the 2nd century AD, that would be Roman. This is all from my wife, who holds a MA in nautical archeology. RT
 
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Vagabond39

Member III
Windward Tack

:egrin:You might want to consult some of Thor Heyerdahl's books. His1950's Kon Tiki Raft trip across the Pacific, His Ra & Ra II paprias reed boat trips across the Atlantic, The Tigras Expidition Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Aku Aku expedition to Easter Island . Many of his books discuss the history of ship building and sailing.

:nerd:
Or Ella Wheeler Wilcox's 1916 poem
One ship sails East,
and another West,
By the selfsame winds that blow,'Tis the set of the sails,
and not the gales,
that tells the way to go.
 
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