The Wot rocket made it's first foiled run today, lifting and and accelerating fairly rapidly before the rudder casing broke........ Resulting in the boys returning to shore and the Wot Rocket returning to Noakes for repairs. Sean was pretty happy with the acceleration but disappointed with the breakage as the conditions were favourable for some high speed test runs.
Sean elected to run without the windshields on today because last time out they fogged up. The pod failed to lift of the water as Wot Rocket become foil born, resulting in it taking a lot of water. They are discussing putting a venturi into the base of the pod.
The boys say the boat should be at Noakes for another week, maybe 2 before they venture out for another run.
Sean Langman’s WotRocket is the latest craft to join the quest to become the first to break the 50 knot mark. WotRocket, like Hydroptere have the advantage of rising above the waves which slow other competitors.
Wot Rock also looks like they will blast off the top of their rig once above a certain speed, to reduce windage. The pic above is not the full rig. An additional section will be added to the top. They are currently still in the test phase and had their second sea trials yesterday, lifting onto the foils for the first time.
A further refinement of past record holder, Yellow Pages Endeavour which set the record in 1993 at 46.52 knots in only 19 to 20 knots, Macquarie Innovation has undergone a lot of tuning over the AUS winter in preparation for it's record attempts later this year.
MI is skippered by champion helmsman of the Yellow Pages C Class, Simon McKeon. They also currently races a Capricorn F18 with his son in Victoria. So far they have reached a speed off 46.48 knots across the 500m course in only 17 knots of breeze. They are only waiting on the required 20 knots they believe will see them the first to break the 50 knots. They have already achieved in excess of 49 knots over short periods in less than ideal winds.
Yellow Pages Endeavour.
Hopefully later in the year I will head down to Sandy Point to check these guys out in the flesh.
In 2005, Hydroptere smashes the mythical barrier of the 30-knot average speed on an open-sea record.
Hydroptere crosses the English Channel finish line at 40 knots, completing the 19 mile passage in 34min 24sec at an average speed of 33.3 knots.
In April 2007, Hydroptere sets off on more record breaking runs in a 25 knot breeze, setting a 500 meter open sea record of 44.5 knots average and a one nautical mile record off 41.5 knots average.
The current highest speed Hydroptere has reached is 47.6 knots. All this was done with it’s previous rig, reefed and with furled head sails.
Hydroptere now has a new rig and it’s goal for 2008 is to be the first to break the 50 knot barrier.
The UK Sail Rocket, spearheaded by Australian Paul Larson, are back on the water with their craft in pursuit of the 50 knot barrier. They are aiming for 50 knots in 23 knots of wind. So far, they have reached a peak speed of 42.5 knots in 18.5 knots of breeze.
Alain Thébault and his crew have been training today in the Hyères bay. In a wind of 20-25 knots and with one reef and solent, l'Hydroptère was able to progressively cross the speed stages imposed by the engineers, from 30 to 45 knots, and even attaining 46.8 knots.
The team seems confident and the WSSRC officials are now on site.