Vestas Sailrocket flip video and images - Back in a week after repairs

by Paul Larsen - Vestas Sailrocket on 9 Oct 2009
Latest news from Paul Larsen, regarding Vestas Sailrocket.

Morning all... from our little hive of activity down here on the lawn of the Walvis Bay Yacht Club in Namibia.

We are making great inroads into the long repair list and I feel that today will be the day that we 'break the back' of that list. Long, late nights can knock days of certain jobs.

I have now posted a Video diary of the recent events and will continue to do so through the remainder of this record attempt.

I know people like to see the action... so here it is. From what you see here it will take us a week to be back out 'there'.... fitter and faster.

Cheers, Paul.

VESTAS Sailrocket WRA4 Run2... Flip diaries




The UK based Vestas Sailrocket speed sailing team are currently making their final attempt on the Outright world speed sailing record in Namibia.

Their eyes are firmly focused on the 51.36 knot speed set by the mighty Hydroptere over the 500 meter course. This is exactly 4 knots faster than the teams current 'B' class world record speed set last December. On October the 6th, on only their second run, they posted a 52.78 peak speed before a main foil component failure sent the pilot and boat into a spectacular airborne back-flip. For Australian pilot Paul Larsen it was a familiar scene having suffered a similar fate late last year. Both times, the boat has landed inverted and Larsen has escaped unhurt. Despite numerous breakages, the team expect to be back out on the water within a week. They remain convinced that they can break this record in the time remaining.

Vestas engineer and Sailrocket designer Malcolm Barnsley describes sailing this boat at record speed as being akin to riding a bike on top of a narrow wall with a slightly dipped top. There is a narrow band where the craft seeks stability... but if you step outside that... then you are grossly unstable. Over the past five years, the team have been working on systems to keep inside that 'groove'.

The record attempt concludes on the 29th of October.

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Website: www.sailrocket.com