Numerical Model

For my numerical model I looked into the pumping technique in windsurfing that is need to increase the speed of the athlete around the race course and accelerate, making it a vital skill in the racing discipline. I have analysed two athletes, one of high elite standard and one of lower elite standard. This allowed me to identify the differences between the athletes and where the strengths and areas to improve are.

From the data collected it can be identified that the athletes are very similar in the angles that they produce. However the angular velocity and angular acceleration of the elite model is 8.33 degrees per second/ 8.33 degrees per second, per second faster than athlete B (lower elite) this higher angular velocity/acceleration of the elite model will allow the athlete to create a higher power through the sail, therefore allowing their boar dot accelerate faster and at a higher rate. This will allow them to have an advantage over athlete B as they are getting a smaller power transfer through the sail, as the longer the movements the more power is lost and absorbed into the body and not channelled into the sail itself that allow the propulsion of the board in a forwards motion. 

Furthermore there is a 24 degree difference between the down phase of both athletes. Athlete A (higher elite) lowers to an angle of 135 degrees and athlete B lowers further to 111 degrees. This decrease of an angle in athlete B will allow them to create the extra power they require through their decreased angular velocity and acceleration. As athlete A has an increased angular velocity and acceleration it allows them to not get as low in points as the acceleration and velocity make up for the lost power that could have been created through the downwards phase by decreasing their angle further by getting lower. The lower the athlete gets will also increase the possible power output as they are increasing the movement angle and if the increase their angular velocity/acceleration it can maximise the gains that could be made. The main in the downwards phase of the pump is to get as low as possible and have a high velocity and acceleration as this will maximise the power that can be increased through this movement. From the measurements it shows that athlete B has a good angle when they are in the down phase (145 degrees) However due to their lower angular velocity and acceleration this counteracts the difference in angle between athlete A and B as A’s higher velocity and acceleration greater a higher power output through the sail. 

Athlete A however rises much closer to the rig creating an angle of 168 degrees, this allows the power transfer to the maximised through the mast foot and into the board as all their weight and the power being created by the body is being channelled through the centre of the board allowing the acceleration to be straight. Athlete B however only rises to create an angle if 146 degrees, this will reduce the amount of power that an be channelled through the mast foot and into the board as not allow their weight is placed over the centreline. This could also cause the board to drift sideways (especially in the lighter winds) as there will be a larger pressure build up against the dagger board that could cause the individual to ‘spin out’ due to the increase of pressure.