Since BMW Oracle demonstrated how potent a weapon solid sails can be, wings have been the talk of the town. In the latest CNN Mainsail programme, presenter and double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson took to the skies in a glider with racing and technical editor Matthew Sheahan, to find out the truth behind why solid wings are so good.

CLICK HERE to see the documentary online

But, given the level of uncertainty before the event, was it really the solid wing that won the Cup? Andy Claughton of the world renowned Wolfson Unit in Southampton explains the technical benefits of a solid sail and gives his view on whether the world’s biggest wing was worth it, while Matthew Sheahan takes a look at a little known class that has made the biggest contribution to the world of wings.

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