VESTAS Sailrocket 2. "The magic mile" world record*... - YouTube

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Cool stuff!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

So, he outran the wind. 25 kt wind vs top speed of 69 kts?

What hapens when he falls off and runs with the wind? How much of a speed drop down toward 25 kts? Is there a math formula to calculate the speed or are there too many variables?

I'm thinking a rogue wave is his worst enemy. Probably kill him, no? Was this done in shallow water or in a reefed body of water?

How do you tack with that setup?

When running with the wind you are limited to less than the velocity of the wind, right?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Seemed that way for me as a kid small boat racing.
Although, would a spinnaker's pull and lift offset the hull's resistance and cause it to go as fast or faster than the wind speed? Especially with this type of "hull" ? Heck, I sure don't know.( I gave up small boat racing when I enlisted in the Navy. Never went back.)

With a boat like this, there'd never be motivation to sail dead downwind. For one thing, under those conditions, you'd never get up on the foil. It would always be advantageous to tack downwind on broad reaches wouldn't it?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

That was a lot of vicarious fun!

It’s probably made of carbon fiber and is a lot less fragile than it looks but I wonder if it would survive a bird or even worse, a partially sunken log strike.

Taking ‘er out for an hour or two on a sunny day would be more fun than a time on the track.

I've gone close to that speed in an iceboat, and I can confirm it is a real kick in the butt.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Like a land speed record car; this is Obviously a purpose built 'sailboat' where factors such as 'hull speed' and tacking & running with the wind don't even come into play. Riding on top of hydrofoils, this seems more like an iceboat in handling and attitude.
But when a 'beam reach' turns into a very 'close reach', (as indicated wind speed increases your speed increases);... this gets to be mind boggling when traveling over 70mph on whitecaps & hard chop. Do you notice how the outrigger arms are more like wings?
I was waiting to see when the whole sailboat would become airborne & disintegrate on one good pounding.

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

SailRocket boat crash at record speed - YouTube

Ooopsie.

That crash was 2008. The record was set this month so they seem to have their problems all sorted out.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Fastest I've been in a sailboat was on a 32' Hobie, but it was nothing like that.

Sweet clip, thanks.

No, the sail acts as an airfoil shape and the forward motion of the ship then translates into greater force. That's why sailboats always fly adjacent to the wind (not perfectly, but for the sake of argument) rather than with it, the sail always taut with the hull rather than off to the side.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth