Sailing ship comprising an aerodynamic profile and a system for determining characteristics of an airflow incident on a leading edge of the aerodynamic profile

A sailing ship comprising an aerodynamic profile forming a sail of the sailing ship, and a system for determining characteristics of an airflow incident on a leading edge of the aerodynamic profile, wherein the system comprises:

• a series of pressure sensors, which pressure sensors are arranged on a surface of the aerodynamic profile, the pressure sensors of each series being distributed on either side of the leading edge of the aerodynamic profile, the series of pressure sensors virtually forming respective patterns that are spaced apart from one another, each of the patterns being a simple polygonal line;
• and
• a computer connected to the pressure sensors so as to receive local pressure values respectively originating from the pressure sensors;
• wherein the computer is configured to determine, along each of the patterns, a respective stagnation-point position defined by a curvilinear abscissa defined along the pattern in question and for which a pressure interpolated from pressure measurements delivered by the pressure sensors of the corresponding series is maximal along the pattern in question, and by an altitude evaluated from respective altitude data of the pressure sensors of the corresponding series;
• and
• wherein the respective altitude data of the pressure sensors are determined from respective altitudes of the pressure sensors in a frame of reference that is fixed with respect to the sailing ship, and from a variable component determined, for each of the pressure sensors, from measurements of an orientation of the ship.