Electronic sail shape sensor network and method of operating the same for single and multi-sail configurations

A sail shape network monitor and emergency shut down system, comprising:

• at least one sensor mounted on a first of an at least two sails on a boat;
• at least one additional sensor mounted on a second of an at least two sails on a boat;
• an at least on transceiver sending and receiving signals and transmitting data with the at least one sensor on the first sail of the at least two sails and the at least one additional sensor on the second sail of the at least two sails;
• an at least one accelerometer;
• an at least one wind meter;
• an at least one data processing unit;
• an at least one network created at least in part by the at least one sensor on the first of the at least two sails and the at least one additional sensor on a second of the at least two sails, the at least one accelerometer, the at least one wind meter, and the data processing unit;
• and
• an at least one program stored on the network and communicating with the processing unit calculating a performance envelope from the transmitted data, wherein the network of sensors detects and transmits data to the data processing unit such that the data processing unit detects when an out of control condition is imminent in the boat.