| div align="center"> | | | | dividing in a flowing manner along the sides of the boat. |
| In 1983, the Australian team manning the boat Australia | | | | The higher the number, the greater the glide. |
| II shocked the sailing world by taking the | | | | Additional downward lift is provided, and this makes |
| yearâs competition for Americaâs | | | | the boat much more stable (it sits more comfortably in |
| cup. Up until that year, the worldâs most | | | | the water). |
| prestigious yacht regatta had returned year after year | | | | The greatest advantage of the winged keel is when |
| to the United States. So what was it that gave the | | | | one is sailing upwind. The greater stability and the side |
| Aussies the advantage that year? Most experts point | | | | force produced by the horizontal foil allow a racing |
| to the innovation of the winged keel the Australian | | | | boat an advantage in conditions that are not ideal to |
| yacht had been equipped with. In fact, this theory has | | | | the sail force. |
| proved so strong that today many sailing boat owners | | | | Of course, the advantages of the winged keel are |
| are interested in using the wing type keel for their own | | | | only obvious under the right conditions, and they may |
| vessels. Letâs take a look at the advantages | | | | not be for every vessel. Lighter, non-racing craft, for |
| that the winged keel added to the Australian | | | | example, may find that the advantages this type of |
| teamâs boat, and what it can add to yours. | | | | keel represents do not transfer under ideal racing |
| The horizontal foil | | | | situations. |
| The part of the keel that is referred to as the wing is | | | | Nevertheless, if you are into long voyage sailing in |
| actual a horizontal foil adapted to fit a traditional shoal | | | | deep water a winged keel is virtually guaranteed to |
| keel. There are several advantages to this adaptation, | | | | give you an advantage in terms of both speed and |
| and they include: | | | | stability. Thatâs what won the Australians the |
| A decrease of draft without decreasing efficiency. | | | | Cup more than two decades ago, and it remains the |
| Traditional shoal keels make it harder to steer a boat | | | | strong selling point of winged keels to this day. |
| properly, but with the wing effect this type of keel is | | | | Production of a number of different combinations of |
| much easier to manoeuvre. | | | | materials and types of fabricated fin keels are as |
| The aspect ratio is doubled. Aspect ratio refers to the | | | | diversified as the boats for which they are built, from |
| ability of the keel to resist pressure from the water, | | | | fixed fins to hydraulically activated dagger board. |