Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1512467
8 SMT007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2023 Nolan's Notes by Nolan Johnson, I-CONNECT007 Set Your Sails Properly In the world of sailing, we talk about head- winds—that strong wind that opposes for- ward motion—to gain momentum (mostly). But isn't this counterintuitive? How can wind pushing into your sails help you move in the direction you actually want to go? Of course, it's much more easily understood when we apply the principles of aerodynamics—which I think most of us understand—and some sail- ing techniques that take advantage of the head- winds. So, I wasn't surprised when the term headwinds popped up frequently in our dis- cussions for this issue about the current eco- nomic climate. I have some sailing experience in my back- ground and what I've learned is that sailboats can and do sail almost into the wind. Gener- ally, the sailboat must be aimed so that the wind is off to the side of the bow just enough to inflate the sails. Most modern sailboats are sloops using triangular sails. e shape of the sails is important: When the sails inflate, the shape is much like an airplane wing. Some of the force pushing the sailboat forward comes from the wind pushing against the back side of the sail, while much of the force comes from the "li" created by the airfoil shape across as the wind passes over the front of the sail. at li is directed, not upward like an airplane wing, but forward, pull- ing the boat across the water. In other words, sailboats take advantage of the headwinds to cre- ate momentum. So, when talking with IPC's chief economist, Shawn DuBravac, for example, about head- winds in the global econ- omy, I knew exactly what he meant. Metaphori- cally speaking, while it seems intuitive to try and sail around the winds or