Every week, the students of PHYS 1205: The Physics of Sailing find themselves aboard a unique intersection of sailing practice and a traditional science class.
The course, taught by Prof. Georg Hoffstaetter de Torquat, physics, takes a hands-on approach and sails away from the typical equation-based physics lecture. Tailoring the class to students with diverse learning styles, Hoffstaetter de Torquat said he wants to make physics fun and approachable.
“I really like formulas and I learn physics from formulas, but in this class I keep the formulas to absolute minimum because most people don't like to learn by formulas,” Hoffstaetter de Torquat said.
Hoffstaetter de Torquat has led the class since it was first introduced in Fall 2024 and has creatively exposed students of various physics backgrounds to the subject for two semesters. Students are given the opportunity to practice sailing several times throughout the semester.
PHYS 1205 is intended for anyone, regardless of academic focus, Hoffstaetter de Torquat said. The course can be a fun and educational way to learn about physics for those who know little about the subject, he said, and many students who are not science or engineering majors take it as a distribution requirement.
The grading scheme of the class includes lab reports, which use measurements calculated from class sessions out on the water, adding a unique practical component to the course.
During the first portion of the semester, before the temperature drops, students spend one class session per week at the Merrill Family Sailing Center. The center’s staff, which includes Cornell student employees, help students navigate the boats and get out onto the water.
Many of the class instructors may be graduate students who were on sailing teams as undergraduate students, said Ivan Sagel, manager of the sailing center, who helps students on the water. These instructors help guide students without any sailing experience to safely learn.
Sailing requires strong collaboration, a soft skill the course fortifies during classes on the lake. Students learn from each other and their mentors as they navigate their boats, and they form valuable connections in the process.
“You're stuck on a boat for two hours with people, so you learn, you get to know people,” Sagel said. “It's like breaking up into small groups, but then you leave the classroom and you're on the boat.”
The course’s thorough instruction combines with lecture topics to foster a deeper understanding of a sailboat’s unique design. The dynamics of watercraft can vary significantly from what typical assumptions point to, so the class heightens students’ physical intuitions.
“The way airplane wings or sails produce lift is very misunderstood,” Hoffstaetter de Torquat said. “And then you can find on-the-web explanations ... that are totally wrong, so we go through those and try to clean up with the wrong conceptions.”
For students who have prior experience in sailing, and even for those who do not, delving into the physics of a sailboat supplements their skills as sailors of all levels. Isabelle White ’25, who joined this class with some prior sailing experience, believed this class augmented her capabilities and deepened her interest in sailing.
“Even though I had sailed in the past, I definitely didn't feel very confident sailing on my own,” White said, “But I think after this class, I would feel a lot more confident going out on the boat by myself. And I feel a lot more excited about sailing as a whole, now that I understand how it works more.”
When asked about his favorite memory from the class, Hoffstaetter de Torquat said he loves when his students become more enthusiastic about the topic. This past semester, the class inspired two students to join the sailing club, Hoffstaetter de Torquat said.
Another time, Hoffstaetter de Torquat ran into one of his students and their mother at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, where a mother informed him that PHYS 1205 was her son’s favorite class.
“It was definitely something that I looked forward to every week,” said White, "It's a great opportunity to learn about physics — something that traditionally, not a lot of students are interested in taking classes on — and have it be applied to something that's as fun and engaging as sailing."
