Can a yacht ever travel faster than the wind ?

This seems like defiance of laws of physics, but it needs the right shape and size of sail to trap enough of the air-mass blowing in the wind. The resulting transfer of momentum can propel yachts to impressive speeds. Especially if friction is minimized – some sleek catamarans can achieve 80km/h using 35km/h winds.

DO  BIRDS SUFFER  FROM  TURBULENCE  WHEN  FLYING?

Birds normally fly close to the ground, around trees and buildings, or soar in the rising air of thermals. Both are high-turbulence environments, but birds have two adaptations that make them much better at coping with it than planes. Nerves at the base of their feathers allow them to detect the flow of air over their wings and monitor turbulence very accurately. Instead of waiting for an air gust to buffet the entire wing, they can anticipate each minor eddy and continuously make tiny adjustments. Large soaring birds, like eagles and vultures, can also quickly tuck their wings downward and coast through a small patch of turbulence. Each tuck last just a third of a sudden loading on their wings.