Resumen
A procedure for the optimization of a catamaran?s sail plan able to provide a preliminary optimal appendages configuration is described. The method integrates a sail parametric CAD model, an automatic computational domain generator and a Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) based on a combination of sail RANS computations and analytical models. The sailing speed and course angle are obtained, with an iterative process, solving the forces and moment equilibrium system of equations. Analytical formulations for the hull forces were developed and tuned against a matrix of CFD solutions. The appendages aerodynamic polars are estimated by applying preliminary design criteria from aerospace literature. The procedure permits us to find the combination of appendages configuration, rudders setting, sail planform, shape and trim that maximise the VMG (Velocity Made Good). Two versions of the sail analysis module were implemented: one adopting commercial software and one based on the use of only Open-Source codes. The solutions of the two modules were compared to evaluate advantages and limitations of the two approaches.