l'hydroptere.ch

Hydroptere.ch

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

hydroptere.ch

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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.....

 

Hydros

Hydroptere.ch has split from Team Hydroptere and is now called Hydros:
http://www.hydros.ch/defis/13-les-defis-actuels/9-hydroptere-ch

Pictures from Hydroptere and Hydros site. Shows variable geometry hull step deployed and windward rudder t-foil retracted.

 

'T'foil extracted ???

Hey bloke - U - O.K. ???

Why would they 'lift' the 'T' foil rudder out of the water ??? Wouldn't it have helped the boat stay flatter (side-ways) while they were sailing. Sure is a great picture - showing good trim (fore & aft) @ 'great speed. Riding on that 'rail' would have made their (& mine) day.

All my best mate, ciao, james

 

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I'm ok more or less-thanks for asking! I guess they figure ,at that speed, using the planing step(you can see it deployed if you look closely), the windward t-foil would be superflous-just more wetted surface.

 

Article from Sail-world about Hydroptere.ch latest record attempt. The Blue Ribbon Speed Record: (please note they went for the record but did not get it ultimately unfavourable conditions came close though missed out by 14 mins)

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/lHydroptere.ch-takes-on-Blue-Ribbon-speed-record/99629

 

hydroptere.ch

Good find, Corley-thanks!

 

Looks like Hydroptere.ch has secured the one hour record for Lake Geneva

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/lHydroptere.ch-breaks-one-hour-record-around-Lake-Geneva/99834

 

Hydros

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I'm not sure Sail-World has caught up with the fact that Hydroptere.ch and Hydroptere are not part of the same project any more. Glad to see they're doing so well-thanks ,Corley.
see post 50 above----

 

Seems they have had a bit of a prang while chasing a record on Lake Geneva nothing too serious though.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/lHydroptere.ch-damaged-in-Ruban-Bleu-record-pursuit/99883

 

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Good info, Corley-thanks! The front of the hull pivots to deploy the planing step-sounds like what broke may have been the link that moves it?

 

Looks like the front of the float has broken right off. Where the link moves the hull is the obvious weak spot. Photo courtesy of the Hydros website.

 

.ch

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Given that the whole forward part of the hull moves to create the step I can imagine the fantastic loads on whatever holds it to the boat in a nose dive. Hope it was just a fluke and not a miscalculation. If they didn't get the loads right they may have to do substantial work on both mechanisms/retainers.