High-Speed Sailing

Vessel Name: Sailien
Vessel Make/Model: Experimental/custom
Recent Blog Posts
28 September 2013

The America’s Cup

I watched, with interest, the videos of the 34th America’s Cup. At last we have fast sailboats engaged in a competition that is fun to watch. The virtual images (such as course boundaries, distance grid lines, separation between boats, etc.) overlaid on the real images really helps to keep the race [...]

31 August 2013

100 Knots for Hydroptere?

The latest news from Hydroptere is that they have plans for a 100 knot sailboat. This was posted on 26 Aug 2013, so look for that date at this address. http://hydroptere.com/en/the-news/last-news/

17 November 2012

Aptly named Sailrocket, blasts off!

While yet to be ratified, Sailrocket posted an average speed over 500 meters of 59 knots. I will not be surprised if they increase their record into the 60 knot range during this record attempt.

02 January 2012

More drag for VSR2?

I want to start by pointing out that the whole VSR2 team has done a stellar job and has demonstrated conclusively that the forces that drive a sailboat can be aligned for roll stability without using ballast and without using any down-force. (Trifoiler achieved roll stability by using down-force, but [...]

18 December 2011

My analysis of Sailrocket

I copied a diagram of VSR2 (wing doesn’t show well) and added in the major force arrows that apply. Be aware that these arrows are not correct in terms of scale (length) and some of their locations are guesses, however I believe I’m correct enough for us to learn something about what VSR2 has been [...]

23 October 2011

60 is within reach, what’s next?

I have been watching Sailrocket’s progress with great interest and there’s no question they have a winner. I fully expect to see them reach 60kt in the near future. Sailrocket has now demonstrated what I first learned with my models and again with my full-sized prototypes, that if you get the forces [...]

Airfoils, take your pick

03 December 2008
Wow, you guys have a great chat going, some good points taken by all. First I want to say that it appears we are all in agreement that kite powered craft should be allowed the courtesy of the outright sailing speed record. Even ISAF classes them as wind-powered water craft or they wouldn't post kite records at all. I think Walter said it best when he said: "It seems to me that if you name the record the "outright" record, then the consequence is that everyone can participate, also the kites. If you do not want the kites to participate, then do not use the word "outright"."

Here is basically how I feel the world sailing speed record rules should be: Water-borne, wind-powered craft, controlled by minimum of one person aboard (no radio controlled craft). No energy storage or other power source than wind and water, but no water current or wave surfing. (I include water as a power source since it is essential for exceeding the wind speed.) Any wind usage should be allowed, including windmills powering water propellers (I know some experimentation has been done with this.) If we limit what can be done, we stifle innovation and progress. About the only other rules might be for safety (make sure wind surfers and kite boarders etc, always have positive buoyancy).

I would also permit ooching, pumping, rocking, sculling, etc. I believe any action like that would likely slow a high-speed craft but if it helps, let's find out, it might lead to some useful application in sailing generally. As for kites, they talk about getting more power by "swooping" the kite around (are the speed contenders doing this?) I say more power to them and may the fastest sailing craft get the outright sailing speed record.

And now for wings verses sails. I consider wings and sails to be essentially the same thing; they operate the same with respect to the airflow. The only difference is the construction, so I just class them all as airfoils. Each has its advantages and disadvantages; take your pick.

Bob
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