This page contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff, along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful and presented here as questions.
How do I get the software?
In most cases by downloading and installing a “demo” from our Downloads Page
Where can I get more Information about Sailing Yacht performance?
Please check the book Principles of Yacht Design. All our math in Sailfish Yacht Analyzer is fetched from that book.
I can’t fit the Rig view on my screen!
Choose menu item View Toolbar (uncheck) and Status Bar. This increases the area on the screen.
I don’t understand anything?
Follow the mini course in “Getting Started”. Begin by menu item Help and Getting Started.
What is Sailfish Yacht Analyzer?
It is an analysis toolbox for sailing yachts. It can give you an understanding of the impact at Yacht speed when you change some parameter on a yacht. Gives you a polar diagram that can help you predict speed for various wind conditions.
Gives you a number of “Figures of merit”. A set of benchmark numbers for you to compare with other designs. Parametric analyses, a technique whereby all design variables, except one, are held constant. As the independent or “free” variable is systematically altered, the designer evaluates the changes to the design.
I get a message “Insufficient or bad data. Check Design. Data shown is unreliable“.
Check that your parameters are ok. Some is obviously out of realistic values.
What is a Polar?
A short explanation can be found here.
When I do a printout of the report the margins on the paper are set to 20 millimetres but they became 20,20,14 and 38?
In this case the numbers corresponds to a page setting for Letter but a printout on A4 paper. To work around this problem, check that paper size is set to the same as in the printer.
Change from US to Metric?
You can use either US or Metric measurements. You can open an old yacht file using US setting, change to Metric, save it again and continue to work in Metric. Do not manipulate data direct in the datafiles. Sailfish Yacht Analyzer can only handle one measuring system at each time. Mixing of units may corrupt the output.