• snooggums@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    Best depends on many factors beyond things like efficiency, weight, or durability. Lateen sails are easy to implement with a single mast, are easy to store and maintain, and everyone that has sailed has experience with them. Other sails might do a better job of catching the wind, but with tradeoffs on maintenance and usability.

    Practicality is often complex and leans towards easier maintenance and established knowledge.