This is a step-by-step introduction to the analysis of a boat using sail7. It is provided as a guide until more detailed documentation is available. 1. Create a boat - Select the menu Boat/New boat - [Optional] Type in a name for the boat - Add a Sail, either NURBS or Sailcut type. At least one sail is required for the boat. - [Optional] Type in self-explicit names for the sails instead of the default names - [Optional] Add a Hull - Position the sail(s) and Hull(s) by modyfing the x and z table values 2. Select one of the sails in the list, and click the Edit Sail button 3. Modify the sail shape using the various options 4. Save and close the sail dialog form 5. [Optional] Edit the hull, if any 6. Save and close the boat dialog form. The boat's name is added to the top left drop-down box. 7. Select the menu View/3D View, or press F4. 8. Save the project file (Ctrl+S), just in case... 9. Modify the boat (Menu Edit Boat, or Shift+F3) 10. The geometry having been constructed, an analysis may now be defined. Select the menu item "Polar/Define an Analysis", or press F6. The name "analysis" refers to the input parameters, the name "polar" refers to the results of the analysis, by analogy to airfoil analysis. Since polars and analysis are always associated uniquely to each other, either name may be used indifferently. 11. In the left side of the Analysis form, provide the data for the fixed parameters of the analysis. 12. Define the variable data in the right side table. Note that when the analysis is run at the next stage, all the values will change simultaneously and proportionally to a control parameter 13. Provide a self-explicit name for the analysis/polar, or leave the default name. 14. Save and close the analysis form. The analysis name is added to the top middle drop-down box. 15. In the right floating toolbar, select the analysis range for the control parameter. 16. In the same form, check the "Store OpPoint" checkbox. "OpPoint" stands for "Operating Point". The Operating Point is the object which stores the resutls for a given value of the control parameter. 17. Click the "Analyze" button. Wait for the analysis to finish. 18. The control parameter values for the OpPoints which have been generated are automatically added to the top right drop down box. 19. Change the view parameters in the right floating toolbar to display Cp values, streamlines, forces, etc. 20. Switch to the graphic display of results by selecting the menu item "View/Polar view", or press F8. 21. Double click on a graph to change the selection of variables and other settings. "FF" stands for results calculated in the "Far Field" plane. Other results are calculated by summation of panel forces. VLM results are usually more reliable when calculated in the far field plane. 22. Get familiar with the various options and