Sailrocket chases Albeau's world record

[clyde]

Sailrocket goes off

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http://www.sailrocket.com/news.htm

[clyde]

A GORGEOUS DAY WITH TWO MORE 40+ KNOT RUNS POSTED...BUT...!!! (http://www.sailrocket.com/live/?q=node/5)

Submitted by Paul on Sun, 05/25/2008 - 21:17.

Yesterday was one of the best days I have seen over at the Walvis Bay 'Speed-spot'...

RUN 45, MEAN WIND SPEED 18.5 KNOTS, TOP SPEED 42.5 knts. WING ANGLE AT 20 DEGREES, WING FLAP ON, LARGE RUDDER STILL DOWN. USING HAND STEERING. POD VERY 'FLOATY'... AS IS FRONT END!

Photos and complete report: http://www.sailrocket.com/live/

[clyde]

http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/21/009/7F/B0/25/3B/XiQ71fKVRLNX8XPe-7cOYJE2rOT7kkH70300.jpg

[clyde]

Report: 6/6/08

Two days ago we completed Run number 48, 49... and most of run 50.
Run 48 was done with the main rudder up but I struggled to turn VESTAS SAILROCKET away from the shore and passed very close to the beach before regaining control. So close in fact that I passed between the RIB and the timing hut... at over 42 knots of boat speed...

...It was a glamorous day so we returned to the top of a very sunny 'speed-spot' for run 49. I was figuring on sheeting in the wing to a tighter angle and leaving the big rudder down just as a safety. This run went very smoothly and VESTAS SAILROCKET virtually sailed herself down the course with very little input from me. We peaked a fraction of a knot under 40 but completed a very smooth run with neutral helm...

...This game is not about being shy. I was determined to do a big run and see a new high peak speed to celebrate surviving to our 50th run. I sheeted in to around 10 degrees as VESTAS SAILROCKET accelerated like a... like a rocket...

...The boat swung wildly into a round-up and we were about to confront our old nemesis. The wing was now king and I was a spectator. It backwinded and sure enough... collapsed the beam. The beam folded to 90 degrees as VESTAS SAILROCKET effectively tacked to be pointing a full 180 degrees to course. The wind got under the back side of the wing and the whole show blew over. We had capsized. I was out of the cockpit and slid over to the bottom of the cockpit as if I was tipping a small beach dinghy over....

http://www.sailrocket.com/live/

[clyde]

Report: 6/16/08

Well, we are back in action. Rigged and ready for sailing...

...the last crash is never behind us until the next run vindicates our decisions and solutions.

Hopefully that day will be tomorrow. Hydroptere has begun its world record assault in earnest so the game is afoot.

I can't wait to get back out there.

Stay tuned, tomorrow looks a bit light... but we will be ready

[clyde]

The aftermath of run 50.

http://www.sailrocket.com/live/files/blog_uploads/boys-in-the-A-on-the-beach.jpg
The aftermath. This is how we towed our poor, wounded bird back into the shore. the rudder and aft plaing surface were both torn off. What a mess! We left all the parts over at speed-spot for the night. It was the first time we had to do this.

Paul reports:

Malcolm has looked over the Run 53 data and thinks it is pretty fine indicating our best wind-to-boat speed ratio yet at around 2.43:1. I think the photos from yesterday back this up as they look very clean and with a lot less spray than normal...

More commentary and new photos.
http://www.sailrocket.com/live/?q=blog/3

[clyde]

Paul's blog


The weather fizzles out so we call an end to Walvis/Round 3 (http://www.sailrocket.com/live/?q=node/25)

Submitted by Paul on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 15:24.

The weather window we were hoping for has fizzled out so we have decided to head back to the UK early.

We knew that there was going to be less liklihood of good sailing days at this time of year but decided to stay on just in case. We were looking forward to the upcoming weekend but things look set to continue weather-wise. Our resources could be better applied if we return in early mid August.

VESTAS SAILROCKET is already packed away inside her container and the operational area has been disassembled.

We will use the time wisely in the UK to review what has happened and what is to come. Whilst we haven't hit the speeds we were hoping for.... we haven't hit any brick walls either. The boat and team in general has come a long way in the past four months. Speeds well over 40 knots are now a common occurrence and I personally feel that we are ready to make another significant performance jump...

...The coming weeks will also allow us time to put together some videos which will be posted when done (remember my laptop got stolen and it has been quite a hindrance in the video editing department).

So hopefully it will only be a relatively temporary departure from speed-spot and once again, as usual, we will come back much stronger for it.