SELECTION OF THE RACING MULTIHULL SAILING BOAT EQUIPMENT BY THE AHP METHOD – A CASE STUDY

The paper aims at presenting the optimal selection of the deck equipment for the racing multihull sailing boat using a novel methodology based on the modified wind loads design and the AHP method. The determination of the modified wind load design due to the mass of the crew on the side hull is essential because of possible greater stability moments. The load obtained in such a way has been compared with the load prescribed by the standard. This modified load resulted to be greater and, therefore, has been used as an authoritative when dimensioning the deck equipment. Furthermore, an optimal selection of the construction and of the materials of the required sailing equipment among a large number of the proposed equipment on the market has been made through an expert approach by using the AHP method to solve such a multi criteria decision making problem