LETTERS Airfoils Dead Downwind USS Constitu~~on undt sail in 1997 I agree with one of your recent correspondents who states that sails are airfoils, which develop lift in the same manner as the w ings of airplanes. As with airplane wings, h owever, sails do so only at angles of attack below their stall angle (generally somewhere around 25 to 30 degrees). The sai]s on a square rigger running downwind have an angle of attack of 90 degrees, and have lost 5 all claim to the aerodynamic efficiency of E airfoils as defined by Bernoulli's Principle. ~Z These sails are therefore being "pushed" like ~ sheets of plywood. JosEPH M. HALL, CDR, USNR (RET.) because of her incalculable worth and staLopez Island, Washington tus as a national treasure. You need to join them on July 4th. The guns are magnifiOldest Active Sailing Ship cent. Eventually I hope to win that cruise I enjoyed issue #118 immensely-interest- lottery. You may have forced me to reread ing articles, research, reporting, maps, and a book written by the navy commander photos. Keep up the good work, though who oversaw Constitution's last restorathe fact checker was incorrect regarding the tion, A Most Fortunate Ship (by Tyrone G. designation that the 1863 barque Star of Martin, ISBN 978-15911 45134), to find India is the "oldest active sailing ship in the the correct answers. Six Frigates by Ian world." I'm sure the naval commander and Toll (ISBN 978-039305 8475), which was crew stationed aboard USS Constitution released last year, is a good read as well. (1 797) in Boston would strongly disagree, TIMOTHY SCHOOLMASTER especially when they are out on one of their Evanston, Illinois six yearly turnaround sails. The Constitu- USS Constitution made a ceremonial fivetion usually wears only a portion of her mile journey under sail on its 200th annisails when she goes out on her turnaro und versary in 1997, making her the oldest "accruises each year, done primarily to even the tive" sailing ship. Before that, she had not weathering on both sides of the ship while set a sail in 116 years, making her old but at the dock. I am assuming a complete brace sedentary. In response to Mr. Schoolmaster's around is possible, though I have not been suggestion, see pages 10-11. able to confirm that in person . She can sail under her own power and is fully capable of sailing anywhere, but I think they purOur seafaring heritage comes alive posely keep her confined to Boston Harbor in the pages of Sea History, from the ancient mariners of Greece to Portuguese navigators opening up the ocean world to the heroic efforts of sailors in modern-day conflicts. Each issue brings new insights and discoveries. If you love the sea, rivers, lakes, and
Liberty or Victory.... how about botb? On page 35 of the Summer 2007 issue, there is a picture of SS Lane Victory. Someone unwisely referred to it as a "Liberty" ship in the caption . I expect others will also see this error. PAUL COLBURN South Berwick, Maine Mr. Colburn was indeed correct when he noted that he was sure others would catch the error. Others, many others, saw the error and were conscientious enough to send in a note or an e-mail to let us know. I thought it worthwhile to explain the differences between the two classes. Liberty ships and Victory ships were built by the US Navy to move troops and supplies during World war II American shipyards turned out these production-line ships in great numbers-more than 2,700 Liberty ships and 531 Victory ships were built during the war. Liberty ships were built on a modification of a British design, but they were slow and brittle (19 Liberty ships broke in two with no warning). American cargo ships were falling prey to German submarines in significant numbers, and the 11-knot maximum speed of the Liberty ship wasn't helping the situation. Early in 1942, the US war Shipping Administration commissioned a design for a foster ship. 1he Victory ships were slightly longer than Liberty ships and could maintain 15-17 knots. A strengthened hull avoided the fractures that plagued their Liberty ship predecessors. Victory ships had a sharp, "raked" bow, a
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Here's a sight we'll not likely see again- USS Constitution and Star oflndia together at the same pier. 1his photo was taken in 1934 when Old Ironsides took a tour up the west coast.
SEA HISTORY 120, AUTUMN 2007
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