Hi Pete,

I think what the authors are referring to as myth, is not that the jib and main don't interact in a positive way to generate power, rather that the popular explanation of how that interaction happens is not a very good model for what actually happens at a physical level.

Quote: "For instance, many sailors believe that the flow of air speeds up between the main and the jib, creating lift and generating power. This causes them to yell at crew for 'standing in the slot'. In reality, the 'slot effect' is a myth; the two circulation fields cancel each other out. This is instantly obvious in a computer simulation. No sailor who sees this simulation once (and who believes it) will worry about blocking the flow through the slot again."

From http://world.std.com/~fhapgood/texts/sails.htm

There again it's classic for authors of equally successful models to claim that theirs is closer to what actually happens physically...

Regards,
Colin
www.sailwave.com