January 24, 2009
Skimming the waves
According to Daniel Jackson, blogging over at Donald Sensing's place, the sailboat Hydroptère achieved a top speed of 61 knots on December 21, 2008, before capsizing in 45 knot seas -- without losing any of the crew.
Hydroplaning technology isn't new; the first watercraft to use the principle were riding above the waves in the 1920s, and passenger ferries have used the technique around the world to boost speeds by lifting the hull out of the water, and in the process reducing -- read: darn-near eliminating -- drag.
But this is the most extreme use I'm aware of, marrying state-of-the-art sail technology to the hydroplane.
That the French appear to be the leaders in the field is no surprise; rumor has it their navy is looking into the design as a means of running away from enemy fleets at high speed, while also reducing the military's carbon footprint.
Do those sails come in white?
All kidding aside, congratulations to the French mariners and engineers responsible for this nautical greyhound. C'est magnifique!
There's more information on Hydroptère here.
Posted by Mike Lief at January 24, 2009 11:22 AM
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