Hi, this is sort of a question for Slieve or one of the areodynamic specialists.
I've read a few posting members talking about "quilting", by which i think they mean camber on each panel, but the mental image of quilting made me think about multiple quilted sections per panel.
If you look at the photos of the Princess Taiping, for example:
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/img_lectronic_480/2008-10-15_4341_Princess%20Tai%20Ping%20Junk.jpg
http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/10/15/ba-junk16_ph1_0499302054.jpg
The panels on the main do not show smooth camber. Are these the sew lines on the quite blown-out sailcloth? Or are they some sort of full-sail diagonal parrels designed to induce a true quilting effect (multiple quilt sections per batten panel)? They do look somewhat intentional, as they are missing on the mizzen.
When I saw this, it made me think of some articles I didn't fully understand, including articles about high-lift vortices, and Slieve McGilliard's "some thoughts" article on the split rig that discusses how only the front side of the camber generates lift.
What effect would inducing a multi-quilted effect like the Princess Taiping have on lift? Would it create lots of little lift vectors over the whole sail, instead of just at the fore of the sail? Or would it create some magically advantageous vorticies?
I submit it to you for comment.