l'hydroptere.ch

[Doug Lord]

from Tumbler: http://alainthebault.tumblr.com/

l’Hydroptère.ch at over 30 knots

Third and new record for l’Hydroptère.ch: The team of Alain Thébault exceeded the legendary and never exceeded speed of 30 knots over one kilometre on Lake Geneva.

It was under pouring rain that last Thursday morning l’Hydroptère.ch surpassed the average 30 knot-barrier over one kilometre. 10 days before the end of the “Syz & Co Leman Sailing Speed Records”, the flying prototype conceived by Alain Thébault holds the “Pure Speed Record over one kilometre” on Lake Geneva at 31.46 knots or nearly 60 km/h (subject to the ratification by the CVSNG).

This achievement further demonstrates the potential of the boat and is a great reward for the team and for the partners, Lombard Odier and Zenith Watches. It is also a real source of motivation for the future record attempts.

click on image: (note steps and hydrofoils deployed)
Image by Christophe Launay

[P Flados]

Considering the amount of speed sailing attention that this lake gets, it seems strange that it has taken this long to get a boat over 30 knots for this distance.

The fact that they used their small boat to do it does show that the Hydroptere team has gotten pretty good at understanding what it takes in the speed sailing game.

I noted that there were also a couple of other accomplishments by this boat on this lake, but I did not dig up much detail.

[P Flados]

The little boat now has 5 lake records. SA posted http://vimeo.com/32666931 on their front page.

One thing I noted right off is something that was a significant topic of discussion earlier. Regardless of appearance, this is truly a catamaran. The center structure rides up above the water at rest.

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by P Flados

The little boat now has 5 lake records. SA posted http://vimeo.com/32666931 on their front page.

One thing I noted right off is something that was a significant topic of discussion earlier. Regardless of appearance, this is truly a catamaran. The center structure rides up above the water at rest.

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That video is very interesting since it shows the boat sailing very fast with both stepped bows dropped down and both rudder t-foils retracted most of the way! The leeward t-foil is down a bit but not very much.....