You might call him Point Loma’s “sailing scientist.” Point Loma High School (PLHS) junior Matthew Morris III scored a triumph at the recent Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair, winning first place in the senior division and awards from four professional organizations. His project tested a unique sailboat hull modification that Morris came up with several years ago after seeing flaws in traditional keels. The results showed conclusively that his hydrodynamic “wing” will make sailboats both faster and safer. Next, he will present his work before national and international judges in Los Angeles. He owns the idea. Morris received an international utility patent on the design in 2009 after nearly two years of work, which included assistance from his father on required drawings. But this story really begins long ago. Matthew is the son of Matthew Morris, Jr. and Kimberly Morris, and when dad took his six-year-old son on his first competitive sailing race a decade ago, he was hoping the youngster would acquire his love of the sport. In those early days, the Morris family saw young Matthew enter the San Diego Yacht Club’s junior sailing program, where he flourished. Today, he is a member of the national championship PLHS sailing team and ranked fourth in North America in Olympic laser radial-class sailboats. This June, Morris will compete in Long Beach at the youth multi-hull world championships, followed by a July trip to France for the youth and men’s laser radial world championships. At age 13, after sailing on “Genuine Risk,” considered among the fastest mono-hull boats in the world, Matthew’s scientific interest was born. The boat uses a traditional “canting keel” design — a large lead bulb that acts as ballast to keep the craft upright and from slipping sideways in the wind. “I did some research on my own and found out ‘canting keel’ sailboats had experienced frequent failures in many open-ocean races,” Morris said.  Later, upon seeing “Genuine Risk” out of the water, Morris was stunned to learn what tremendous stress is placed on the keel and lead bulb. “Is there was a better way?” Morris wondered. With that, his work began. “I came up with my own concept and discussed it with some knowledgeable people in the sailing community,” Morris said. “They thought my idea had merit.” Morris’ idea involved the installation of a hydrodynamic lifting surface — or “wing” — on hulls, counteracting the wind’s force and reducing the amount of lead needed in the keel. The shaft connecting it is attached at an obtuse angle. “After the patent was granted, I shared my concept with as many yacht designers and scientists as possible,” Morris said. “There was general agreement the basic concept was sound and I received feedback on some of the technical challenges. It was suggested my next step should be proof-of-concept testing.” On the advice of Brian Benz, his PLHS physics teacher, the winning science project was begun last summer. It did, however, have its problems. Since he couldn’t find a professional fluids lab that would allow him access, Morris had to construct his own flow bench. PLHS lent him sensors and data-acquisition software to help acquire needed materials. Ray Menegus, Sr., an avid radio-controlled model builder, assisted with the creation of a functional boat model. Marco Schilling, CEO of Schilling 3D, supplied a Jacuzzi pump and backboard graphics. Dr. Steven Harrington, CEO of FloMetrics, offered advice on test procedures. And Paul Taylor loaned the backboard Morris is using to display the project. ProBuild and Ocean Beach Hardware provided discounts on materials used to complete the flow bench. Also, PLHS teachers Benz, Sylvia Maas and Steve Guthrie provided the instrument hardware and “valued guidance and support,” Morris said. “According to my project journal,” Morris said, “I already have 214 hours dedicated to the science fair entry. The work is ongoing, as I’m preparing for the national and international fairs, which require additional testing and analysis.” Morris received the 57th Fred H. Rohr Award for his work, in addition to professional society awards from The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The Marine Technology Society, The Naval Science Awards Program and the Falconium Science Journal. “This was my first experience with the science fair,” Morris said, “and the knowledge about my subject, scientific methodology and what is involved in converting a concept into a design were the most important and rewarding aspects of my participation.” More gratification for Morris came from the interactions he had with sailing superstars. “To have some of the best minds in the business show their support is highly encouraging,” Morris said. “One of the best rewards I received was being able to talk with and learn from these greats in the sport of sailing.” Morris knows more needs to be done before his “wing” becomes the new standard. “It was very exciting to get positive results from the experiment,” he said. “A lot more testing and experimentation needs to be done before I can answer all the questions about potential benefits and issues concerning my keel design.” There is speculation about the potential applications of his invention, and Morris said he is encouraged. “With development, I believe the coming generation of sailboats, using my keel concept, can bring performance to the next level,” Morris said. The “sailing scientist” may someday revolutionize the sport he loves.