The race to 50 knots.

Sean Langman's Wotrocket is currently doing test runs on Botany Bay, Australia in front of the Kurnell Cat Club.

More HERE

Who will be the first?

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.

WotRocket - http://www.wotrocket.com/

These guys are testing out the front of my sailing club, so will be following it closely.

Macquarie Innovation - http://www.macquarie.com.au/speedsailing.htm





Macquarie Innovation

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.

Hydroptere - http://www.hydroptere.com/_en/



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.

Sail Rocket – http://www.sailrocket.com/index.htm

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.

Current record holder Antoine Albeau - http://www.antoinealbeau.com/a207/index.html

Established a new sailing water speed record off 49.09 knots on the 6th March 2008.

World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) site - http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/

Speed World Cup site - http://www.speedworldcup.com/home/index.php

Someone is kiting I'm sure, but I only know the Dave Culp references

http://www.dcss.org/

http://www.dcss.org/speedsl/Sailtech89.html

We have a kite for our Fboat, but I've not had the gonads to hang it yet.

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.

http://www.hydroptere.com/_en/

That looks like the only boat (not counting the windsurfer) that can sail in more than one direction. Am I correct?

Yup. It is intended to go out and race across oceans once the break 50.