New l’Hydroptère sailing sessions in Med evaluated

by l’Hydroptère media on 18 Jul 2008
Since the launching the new version of l’Hydroptère in the Meditarranean, Alain Thébault and his crew have been training and sailing between Marseille and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, as wind conditions permit. After the first sailing sessions, the time has come to make the first evaluation.

The members of l’Hydroptère team have found their bearings in Marseille and have been able to adjust to the new working environment and to the new sea conditions. This was facilitated by the warm welcome they received from the time of their arrival, first of all, by the CNIM teams, who welcomed the boat during her final phase of assembly.

They made themselves available and were very responsive to the specific needs of l’Hydroptère Team. Then by the Foselev company, where they coordinated all the necessary logistics for our technicians, and finally by Marseille Provence Métropole, that welcomes l’Hydroptère free of charge in the Vieux Port of Marseille.

The speed version of l’Hydroptère is an entirely new boat.

For this reason, Alain Thébault and his crew have taken the time to proceed with the necessary adjustments and to take control of the boat. 'Following the speed configuration works, we have to re-acquaint ourselves with the boat, discover new sensations and, little by little, tame this spirited boat. We must re-discover everything, each gesture, each action', says Alain Thébault.
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The prototype conceived for very high speeds is so specialized and exacting that a time of adjustment is necessary before beginning any record attempt. The Mistral having been fairly rare over the past few weeks, taking control of the boat has been done in moderate winds of 20 knots maximum.

Each sailing session is followed by a complete examination of the measurements in order to adapt the adjustments and to optimize the flying trimaran’s performance between two sessions.

The spot of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône is perfectly adapted to the needs of the crew. It brings together ideal conditions for the speed record, a water surface protected by sand dunes and swept by the Mistral wind.

Weather conditions not having permitted sailing sessions with actual record conditions, the steps of speeds over 40 knots, necessary for the engineers’ analyses, could not been validated. The training sessions will continue until Alain Thébault and his crew feel they are ready to begin the actual record attempts.

Event website - http://www.hydroptere.com/_en