There is never a finite volume which is affected, since both the up- and downstream air is affected ... That follows directly from the principle of conservation of momentum and mass.
And yet the total energy available for harvesting is finite just the same (my point).
The total sum of 0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + 0.0003 + 0.00003 + etc may indeed be infinite in its composition but it final value is not ! Note how the value of the above infinite sum is simply 1/3rd; the quotient of two very much non-infinite numbers.
Look at the bigger picture. God doesn't roll dice and there are no infinite end results in physics. There are only limitations to what the human mind can still comprehent and inaccuracies in our mathematical models.
... assuming the Icat sail has the same cp-peak and the same pressure recovery over its longer chord, it will take out more energy of the flow ...
Unless it encounters another limit that is overlooked. I was never talking about an airflow with sufficient high energy levels, I was talking about light airs; the area were very tall and skinny A-cats sail excel. Now the question to us all is why they do so. It is because they have lower drag coefficients in their sails or because their rigs swep a larger area of moving air and thus tap into a larger volume of available energy ? Note, that as soon as the body of air becomes sufficiently energized they loose much of their advantage.
Of course, you cannot take out more energy from the wind as there is in it.
In fact, the maximal amount you can harvest is significantly lower then that.
Look up the Betz law to get an idea of what kind of limits are at play.
Assuming same mast height and luff length, a 16sqm sail will be favored above a 15.5sqm sail on a run or downwind leg.
Over all possible conditions ?
I think you will find that there are exceptions.
Wouter
