This is crazy

[rgranger]

Have you seen this?

Fastest sailboat: the two teams hoping to set new a new record

It's been nearly a decade since Sailrocket became the world's fastest sailboat. Now two teams are hoping to set a new record with their radical designs

www.yachtingworld.com

 

[kappykaplan]

Interesting find! Tks for sharing.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I love it.
The tether gets the sail up where the winds are stronger, but I could see such a rig on the top of a mast too. Like attaching a hang glider to your sailboat.

It has to be a real bummer to have your kite hit the water.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[shemandr]

Years ago there was a presentation at a sail loft in Huntington. The speaker, if I remember, was Christopher Pastone, who also wrote “Temple to the Wind” about the AC and Nathanial Herresoff. He had a satellite link up with a guy in Namibia, who was going for a speed record. So we had a live interview and videos of speed attempts including some crashes. Long way to get here but that guy is crazy. He was actually on the water. So the “Boat” could go unstable in a heartbeat. At least the kite versions are less affected by waves (The boat in Namibia couldn’t have any waves). At what point do the kite foilers rip the foil out of the water? Are they then an aircraft?

 

[RobChichester]

I understand racing and the obvious need for speed, if not tactics as well. However, my pleasure comes from quietly moving along at 5-10 knots in a breeze taking my time and letting life unwind for a while. I used to enjoy the 12 meter AC boats because they were not unlike the boats I sail. It was easy to imagine the points of sail and deciding when to tack, etc. The rockets they are building now... I can't imagine having to wear helmets, body armor, and survival air packs to go sailing. All of that ruins the beauty of what I enjoy about sailing.

 

[DArcy]

I really enjoyed following Paul Larsen's persuit of the world speed sailing record. As an engineer I appreciated the development of the boat as much as the sailing. It has nothing to do with how I sail but I still found it fascinating.
The latest America's Cup racing was a lot of fun to follow. It was great to be able to listen in to the teams discussions. I was amazed how much of the dialogue on board was very similar to club racing, at least as much as match racing can be.
As a cruiser, the AC is not much like how we sail but as a racer, there are similarities. I enjoyed the 36th AC more than any in the past, mostly because of the onboard views.
I'm not as much interested in the kite boats but part of me is curious enough to follow along and see how this race for the record plays out.

 

[rgranger]

I like the idea of the kite sail and can imagine using one on a polynesian styled sailing rig with a 2' or 3' mast and some guide lines to the amas for fine tune control. The part I have a hard time imagining is how to reef.

 

[Will Gilmore]

The part I have a hard time imagining is how to reef.

You don't reef. The kite sail comes in, in a storm, because the air is unpredictable and you don't want it in the water when you are fighting the waves. Otherwise, you just go faster in higher winds. It won't knock you down, so just enjoy the added speed. If you fly it at the head of a short mast, kant it at a flatter angle to reduce the heeling moment.

I, of course, don't know, but this is how it looks like it would work, to me.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[rgranger]

Sounds fun

 

[h2o_snow]

I'd toss out that sailing fast is more fun for me than sailing slow. For the lowbagger set, a used Hobie 16 is about the cheapest way to sail (or explode) around 20mph. I still get excited on ours.

And - the Beneteau First 27 looks pretty sweet at 19 mph+ for a trailer cruising boat (I'd really like to check one out):

FAMILY GUY STEPS OUTSIDE HIS COMFORT ZONE IN SEASCAPE 27 ESCAPADE — UK Sailmakers

 

[william24424]

The LibertyKite® - Add a kite wing to tow your boat Looks like a similar tech, this web site advertises the kite for emergency, I'm thingking Add this unit to your sail plan, go fast? and please post results on sailboatowners.com

 

[DArcy]

The LibertyKite® - Add a kite wing to tow your boat Looks like a similar tech, this web site advertises the kite for emergency, I'm thingking Add this unit to your sail plan, go fast? and please post results on sailboatowners.com

The funniest thing about that picture is imagining power boaters trying to figure out how to sail with a kite in an emergency. Heck, even the average sailor would struggle with it.