High-Speed Sailing

Hydroptere is sailing solidly at 50+ knots and is the current standard to measure up to in high-speed sailing. The kite boarders are hammering away at the record but they need gale force winds to do it. As our understanding of fluid dynamics and structural engineering improves (along with high-strength materials) our efficiencies will improve and our speeds will go up relative to the true wind speed. Unfortunately, the kite boarders and windsurfers are stuck with the huge aero-drag penalty of pushing a body through the air and they will not be able to significantly improve efficiency unless they enclose the body in some sort of fairing.

I have been looking over the high-speed sailing we have been watching for the past year, sorting out various strengths and weaknesses in the contenders, and I have concluded that 60 knots should not be too difficult to achieve. Now I'm sure some will laugh and say "Sure Bob, you're just sitting there at your computer blowing hot air. Show us the record!" They are absolutely right, but there's no way I'm going to do this without some help. So this is a challenge to any of you that think you are "wild and crazy" enough to join me in putting together a real contender.

Here is my "take" on a speed record assault. I think 60 knots is "easy". Note that my idea of easy means that I think it is possible but that it will take some serious hard work and real determination. When things look like they might not be possible, I consider that to be a "difficult" project. I figure the best plan is to aim for 70 knots, 60 is a waypoint.

Why do I consider 60 "easy"? Well Hydroptere claims they hit a peak of 61 knots just before flipping; did they really? Or was that just the reading the GPS got as it was "sling-shotted" over in the flip? We don't know (maybe they don't either) but let's assume they did hit 61 before flipping. If 61 was real, then we know that cavitation is not a limiting factor for the foils they are using, up to that speed. Hydroptere is "giving away" a lot of efficiency with their set-up and they are the fastest in spite of it. For instance, when they fly the windward foil, they are not at an ideal attitude for best speed. They carry added weight in the form of ballast to keep from flipping. They have to de-power in a gust to keep from flipping. They are not very "clean" aerodynamically (think Greenbird for an example of clean aero). This is not a criticism of Hydroptere; they are the best at present. This is just to point out where to find more speed. The most important area is the one I've been saying all along; get the forces properly aligned, eliminate any ballast and any need to de-power to maintain control.

Any of you up for a real challenge?

Bob