Hydroptere

Hydroptere is a great machine with a proven track record. It combines a sophisticated multi-hull-design with state-of-the-art sails.

However, it is considered that Hydroptere does not use the full potential of wind, because the wind does not create any lift forces on the vessel. In contrast, the wind pushes Hydroptere into the water, which leads to a greater drag force and thus to a lower speed. Also, the moments on the vessel caused by the wind force must be compensated by water forces acting on the vessel. This also increases the drag force and thus slows the vessel down. Wiebel eventually will be faster than Hydroptere because the wind lifts Wiebel from the water. Further, the moments caused by the wind force on the vessel need not be compensated by water forces, but are compensated by placing the mass of the vessel at the right location, i.e. to the weather side and to the rear of the center of effort on the sail. For this reason also, Wiebel will be faster than Hydroptere.

Antoine Albeau & other windsurfers

Antoine Albeau, Finian Maynard and other windsurfers have been at the forefront of fast sailing for years. Where they have gone, no one else has been able to go with them. Windsurfing has proven to be one of the fastest ways of moving on the water by wind.

However, windsurfing also has its limitations and drawbacks. The dimensions of the human body is basically fixed. The weight and the length of a windsurfer determines the dimensions of the board and the sail. In particular the length of arms and legs limit the distance at which the mass of the body of the windsurfer can be placed outboard. Further, the greater part of wind forces are transferred from the sail to the board via the body. In terms of strength and control, the human body also has its limits. Perhaps the most important drawback of windsurfers is that the water exerts a great force on the fin and tends to flip the board over. This tendency must be compensated by the windsurfer, who presses his feet downward on the board at one side thereof. This downward force of the feet pushes the board into the water and increases the drag force, and thereby decreases the speed. Wiebel is based on windsurfing technology for a great part, but avoids the mentioned drawbacks of windsurfing. Because the sail is rigged with a mast, there are no wind forces which need to be transferred via the human body. Further, the rigging enables the dimensions of the vessel to be chosen freely, without being hindered by size limitations of the human body. Further, larger wind forces are possible because via the rigging, greater control is possible. Perhaps most important of all, the boards are fixed to a frame, which obviates any downward forces from the boat on the boards. The fins cannot flip the boards over since they are fixed to the frame. Ultimately, Wiebel will thus be faster than windsurfers.

Macquarie Innovation

Macquarie Innovation is one of the great projects out there. It has a proven track record, being record holders during the nineties. It is a great design, optimized for pure speed. It is considered possible that Macquarie may retake the record.

However, Macquarie has its drawbacks. First, no lift is generated by the wing. Thus, the wind is not used to its full potential and the maximum speed is lower than it could be. Next, a substantial forward moment is generated by the wind, which must be compensated by water forces acting on the vessel. This slows the vessel down even further. Moreover, the vessel is asymmetric. This may work for the 500 m record and perhaps the 1km record and 1 mile record, but for the longer distances, this boat will not be able to compete.

Sailrocket

Sailrocket has been here for a while. it is an interesting design which optimizes the wind forces to a great extent. Theoretically, Sailrocket should be competing with the top and even have a chance of breaking the record.

However, the boat has a serious drawback in that it creates balance by rolling against the wind instead of with the wind. This can only be achieved at a cost, i.e. the boat needs a great width which allows the resulting wind force axis to pass at a distance underneath the windward hull. Only this 'arm' can cause a sufficient moment about the windward hull to roll the vessel about the windward hull against the wind. The great width makes the boat impracticable.

Trampofoil

Trampofoil is a newcomer and has a interesting design. Lift is generated by the wing and also the forward moment is substantially reduced.

However, the mass of the sailor is positioned in the wrong place. instead of placing the sailor on the outrigger, he sits in the main hull. This contravenes normal sailing practice, and reduces the amount of wind that the boat can handle before rolling over and capsizing. If the sailor would be positioned on the outrigger, the boat can handle greater winds and go faster. Further, the paravene exerts a downward force on the vessel. This goes against logic. The downward force increases the drag forces because it mus be compensated by an upward force from the water on the vessel at another location. It is believed that in the current setup Trampofoil will no be a serious contender for the record. Trampofoil further is asymmetrical, which makes it problematic to compete for longer distances or to use the boat in close contact racing. Also, wing boats are less appealing than sailboats.

Monofoil

Monofoil seems to be a project that has difficulties coming off the drawing board. It is a complex design. The boat has many different components, which in themselves are very complex.

Although much is unknown, it is an estimated guess that Monofoil is just too complex to be able to brake the world record. Apart from this, monofoil is an asymmetrical boat which is unsuitable for racing with several boats at close range or racing on the open seas over longer distances for instance to brake the Transatlantic or the round the world record. Next , Monofoil has a wing instead of a sail. It is not really a sailboat but rather a wing boat.

Kite boards

Kite boards are great. The speeds are dazzling. It is estimated that kite boards will remain the fastest wind powered vehicles over short distances for a long time to come. Robert Douglas is the current record holder and is now the man to beat.

However, kite boards also are not perfect. The kitesurfer needs to press down on the board in order to prevent the board from rolling over. This downward pressure reduces the speed. Over longer distances, it appears that kite boards simply cause too much fatigue in the user's body to be able to keep up the speed. Thus, although a serious contender for the 500m record, it appears that kite boarders will not be able to compete over longer distances.

Wotrocket

Supercavitation is a fascinating subject. It seems that many vessels may attain greater speeds with Supercavitation.

However, it appears that very fast sailboats are the one exception to the that rule. A sailboat that is well designed only is in contact with the water with components that need to be in contact with the water, i.e. a fin and a planing surface. If supercavitation is applied to these components the boat will not work. if supercavitation is applied to the fin, the boat will not be able to hold course and move laterally with the wind or have a wipeout. If supercavitation is applied to the planing surface, no vertical force will be transferred to the boat at the position where it should be. Thus, Wotrocket does not seem to be serious contender for the world record.

Dared

Of all the projects under development, Dared is one of the most promising. Since kite boards attain dazzling speeds, a kite boat should also attain dazzling speeds. A kite can generate substantial lift and minimize contact between the boat and the water to the absolute minimum.

However, from the available information on the Dared website, it seems that the design needs improvement. In particular, the connection point between the kite and the boat is located too high above the water, This creates moments and causes a serious risk of capsizing. When the boat capsizes, the wind force still acts on the boat, because unlike sailboats the kite is still in the air and keeps driving the boat. Dared thus has a serious risk of being dragged through the water after capsizing. Thus, although being one of the most promising boats, it also seems one of the most dangerous boats. It remains to be seen how a kite boat performs on the open ocean.

The WRSSC is requested to distinguish between kites and sails. Sailboats need to have a different class than kite boats.

Dingbat

Dingbat is a sympathetic design and relatively new. It is symmetrical, which is good. It has lift, which is also good. The nosedip is limited, which is also good. it appears to have a relatively complex wing, which is not so good. The most important unanswered question is what part of the boat is in contact with the water when it planes. If the hull sections are planing boards, only the rear ends will be in contact with the water. This will lead to directional steering issues, because the pressure point in the sail will be located forward of the planing parts. However, from the limited information this is not clear. It appears from the overall looks, that at this point in time, the boat is not ready for very high speeds. But, who knows.

Comparison

Here you will find a comparison in Excel of all the projects out there and discussed below.

WSSRC

The WSSRC records the records. If you are listed here, you've got it made. The WSSRC is requested to create more classes, in particular to create at least one two-tack record class. This allows symetrical vessels to compete in a different class than asymetrical vessels, which by nature have an advantage over symmetical vessels. The WSSRC is further equested to create separate classes for sails, in which classes kites can not compete.

Robert Imhoff's BLOG

Robert Imhoff has a BLOG on speed sailing. His razorsharp remarks provide food for thought for many designers in the speed sailing arena. We respectfully disagree with Bob on a number of issues, but there is no doubt that he inspires those with a burning desire to break the world record.

Dutch Sailing portal

Zeilen.startpagina.nl is the main Dutch portal to sailing. If you are looking for anything relating to sailing in the Netherlands, be sure to pay this site a visit.

Other Links