VESTAS SAILROCKET- The rollercoaster road to 50 knots!

Here are some highs and lows from our last four month session in Walvis Bay, Namibia. We are steadily progressing up the speed sailing ladder to our goal of becoming the fastest sailing craft in the world. As the video shows, there are a few 'snakes' along the way.
Overall progress is good. We are ticking many boxes in the development of this radical Mk1 prototype as we work to bring its potential to the surface. We are now sailing with confidence in the boats ideal wind range (22 knots) and constantly hitting speeds well over 40 knots. We know more than anyone how far we still have to go to get to 50... but we also believe that we are on the right road...and in the right car!
If you have any queries or want to follow the day to day action of the project then follow the blog-spot on www.vestassailrocket.com . We are returning to Namibia and hope to carry on sailing from mid-late August 08.
Cheers, Paul.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• vestas
• sailrocket
• 50
• knots
• speed
• sailing
• yacht
• yachting
• walvis
• bay
• namibia
• high
• fast
• fastest
• world
• record
• attempt

[grumpybowman]

what happened to the "air rudder"?

[paularsen1]

The air rudder is resting for now. Malc still likes it and it may feature later when we have a better handle on the configuration of the boat for high speed work. It seems that the fixed skeg will be here to stay on this version of Sailrocket... so we might as well use it for steering. The air rudder does solve a few problems such as ventilation which may affect the skeg steering at higher speeds.

[ti41magh41]

I absolutely agree. Hydrofoils to that craft would make that a more faster and comfortable ride as well. But i have not done as much research as they have. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

[warpedapple]

Really nice boat you have made.. I havnt seen anything like this before

[teslacult]

Turn that thing into a hydrofoil and youll take the record easy.

[teslacult]

I love it! Even if you don't take the record, that is one crazy ride!

[Theriomalstrom]

@ 2:22 it sure stops on a dime! Did he put on the brakes? lol

[TheAussiNut]

Your a bloody nut, thats mental

[muhammadswati]

Paul, I just saw you today on Discovery science TV in Beyond Tomorrow.

[dcalimited]

"We tacked at 35knots".. gotta love it.

I've been following this from the "model" stage. You guys have come a long way! I bet you get 50 for sure. GOOD WORK!

[habbobaby1]

It's called a "sailing boat"

[granagg]

he broke it...