High-Speed Sailing

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 [...]

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/

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 [...]

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 [...]

Sailien and AC take two

16 January 2010

When I tell someone I've been developing a high-speed sailboat I'm often asked, "Will you be going after the America's Cup?" I usually laugh and say that the guys involved with that competition don't want to see what I'm doing. However the climate may be changing. I first saw a chance for innovative sailboats in AC competition in 1988 when the catamaran "Stars and Stripes" using a wing, was raced. Unfortunately, after that race the boys got together and went back to more traditional monohulls; innovative sailboat design got snubbed again. But once more things are looking up, with two high-tech multi-hulls competing for the AC in just a few weeks.

I have one point of disagreement with the competing craft and that is the use of engines to run the winches etc. This function used to be done manually and I object to engines being used. I feel the boats should be totally wind powered and winches should either be manually powered or wind powered.

The only other downside to the current AC race is the court battles. It would be great if the boys could shake hands and have a gentlemen's race, I believe that was the original intent of the competition.

I always get interested in the AC when innovative craft are being sailed and maybe some day the Sailien Ship will get a chance to race for the AC.

Bob

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