Vestas Sailrocket 2, 74-MPH sailboat

[spinningmagnets]

The title says it all, 74-MPH / 120-k/h

http://gizmodo.com/5861104/the-sleek-sailrocket-2-looks-to-set-a-new-world-speed-sailing-record

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sZVIj5TUSKE#!

 

[Jeremy Harris]

I saw a brief clip of this on TV a few days ago and have been following it's progress.

It's pretty amazing for them to have got such a high speed, particularly when you realise they are sailing about three times faster than the wind.

 

[zappy]

I was involved with making the mandrel and carbon mast for one of the early prototype ones.

Zappy

 

[shorttyd]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/01/ff-paul-larsen-sailrocket/all/

How a Boat-Plane Hybrid Shattered the Sound Barrier of Sailing

Wired Mag is badass. I don't work for or anything, sorry for spamin ya with their links haha. This sail boat is badass though.

 

[borschelrh]

Personally, as a catamaran sailor, I find this seriously cool! I am toying with building a new catamaran and perhaps to use foils on that but I may do a moth instead. That looks pretty cool as well. But, nothing like this wonderful design. My kudos to all of the people involved in this project.

 

[grindz145]

I've sailed a 34' catamaran across lake Ontario. Shit gets real at like 8-10 knots. Especially in the dark...

I can't even imagine what 30mph would feel like, let alone 70....

 

[borschelrh]

I've got a Smartkat and it is crazy wild above 25 knots. When solo it sails one pontoon at bout 6 knots and then it gets wild. If there are no waves it is an amazing boat and can sail well at 15 degrees into the wind. My problem is flipping when turning. Lake Balaton is huge with a lot of gusty microclimates and the wind changes direction in short distances so it is a lot of fun.

 

[mrzed]

I've got a Smartkat and it is crazy wild above 25 knots. When solo it sails one pontoon at bout 6 knots and then it gets wild. If there are no waves it is an amazing boat and can sail well at 15 degrees into the wind. My problem is flipping when turning. Lake Balaton is huge with a lot of gusty microclimates and the wind changes direction in short distances so it is a lot of fun.

Balaton breeds some badass sailors. I visited and was camping at a marina there as a young lad years ago and this old couple in their 70's came sailing off the lake, around the breakwater, through the marina and into their slip. Made it look as easy as me pulling into my driveway.

 

[liveforphysics]

That is fantastic! We should harness that energy with massive computer controlled 4-line kites like 200ft across for pulling along tankers/cargo ship.

Im guessing he is using a downward lifting hydofoil on one side to counter act the tipping moment of the sails non-forward thrust axis byproduct forces of leveraging like a 3:1 windspeed to motion angle of attack.

 

[John in CR]

That is fantastic! We should harness that energy with massive computer controlled 4-line kites like 200ft across for pulling along tankers/cargo ship.

There are already both kite and wingsail systems to add to cargo ships.

I'd like to see unmanned dive and glide systems for transport. The energy use is silly small. It was developed for torpedo with planing wings looking machines used oceanic research http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_glider

 

[borschelrh]

Yes, I wish I was that good but I am pretty good at cruising back to dock without catching all the fishing lines of the fishermen along the docks which is for me the main hazard. I have some issues with the reeds as well along the shoreline. I put in on the Western shore of the Tihany peninsula so it really is interesting as the prevailing wind is from the North but it is redirected and accelerates when it crosses over the peninsula. There are some wind shadows to avoid when this happens and you can have a 180 degree change in the wind direction in less than 50 meters so it really is wild. You have to watch the water very carefully to miss the dead zones. I tend to sail mostly on that side of the lake and haven't yet tried navigating through the relatively narrow channel to go over to the Eastern part of the lake. I think it is pretty hairy through there so have avoided it.

The accomplishments of the Sail rocket are amazing and I am astounded at it's performance. I realize it is a one off design built just for this purpose on that particular part of water. Nonetheless it is very impressive. I can't imagine catching a nose on that thing. When I miss read the gusts and flip I usually go flying at least 50 feet which can be exciting but I am an old parachutist so this is fun for me. That is one of the fun things about a high performance inflatable catamaran. My boat weighs less than 42 kg and has a relatively large sail area so it can react pretty violently which is why I love it so much. But, being stuck in that cockpit must get the old adrenaline flowing when it gets dicey.