Paul's blog

Mile results...

We don't expect to be sailing for the next few days as it seems we are to endure a light wind patch.

We will use the time to remove the wing and service all the parts. Yestereday we checked the calibration of some of the key components of the PI RESEARCH logging system to make sure the information we were getting was spot-on... It was.

It took some time to get the accurate results post processed off the TRIMBLE GPS to see what we really did down the mile the other day. In fact we only got the results back yesterday afternoon. Here they are...

Peak speed- 46.75 knots off Trimble

Best 500 meter- 45.75 knots off Trimble

NAUTICAL MILE AVG- 41.09 knots off Trimble

(Kilometer AVG- 43.35 off Trimble)

(interestingly, these numbers varied quite a bit in some instances from those taken off the GT-11 hand held units which are preferred by some other speed sailors with craft too small to carry the TRIMBLE. In the case of the 500 meter average it was by over 1.7 knots!!! I for one would be interested to see a test carried out using all three systems simultaneously i.e. A TRIMBLE, a range of hand-helds and a good old fashioned fixed wheel unit. It could be done on land on a runway.)

So all this means that we did our second best 500 meter average... but that the Mighty Dunkerbeck still has the Walvis course record by 0.07 knots over the mile. We are exactly 2 knots off Hydroptere's time. It remains a worthy time and a good benchmark for us.

We carried the penalty of a cautious start up down the whole course as I only began to gently power up towards the end as I gained confidence in the boats behaviour. We didn't actually get into the 40's for a while at the start. The kilometer average was for the second half of the run. This is probably a typical issue for the mile course as it is hard enough to find an ideal 500 meter course let alone one that is a full mile long... more if you want to hit it at full speed.

STILL LOOKING FOR BRIGHT SPARKS!!!

Just to follow on that one of our key team members/designers/sponsors at AEROTROPE are looking for someone with the right skills to join their team. Chris and the boys designed the wing for VESTAS SAILROCKET and play a major role in technical support for the project as a whole. If you are looking at this then obviously you share our interests. AEROTROPE is involved in all manner of innovative projects which share a common thread. Working with them would be a perfect opportunity to get involved with the 'nuts and bolts' of what it takes to make a project like ours work now... and in the future. Check out the position details here... http://aerotrope.wordpress.com/vacancies/

So in the mean time we will sit and wait for the wind.

Cheers, Paul.

A pretty good stab at the mile for starters!!!

Hi all, just got in and the team are tearing through the data, photos, footage... and snacks.

Looks like we did somewhere around a 41.2 knot average (all subject to WSSRC ratification) over the mile which should be enough to move us up to second in the mile ranking overall and take the course record off Dunkerbeck along with a few other smaller titles (Australian mile, 'B' class mile). Hydroptere is still king in this department for the time being... but we will be back. We did a 44.02 knot 500 meter run and a peak around 46.

It looks like we jumped perfectly through the days weather window as the wind dropped slightly after the run. We hit the course just after it stopped peaking at 24's and as it shifted to a more ideal direction. The WSSRC commissioner noted no significant tide (it was bang on high tide anyway.

I was happy with the start up which I delayed a little so as not to go too fast whilst still out in the rough. Sailing a nice clean course had all my attention and I focused on carefully aligning VESTAS SAILROCKET's pointy nose at the SEAFLEX buoys. I was also taking note of how light the nose was as the gusts hit. she still felt pretty 'soft' up there. I left the wing out at around 15 degrees but had the flap pulled 80% in. I knew it was pretty fast as she would jerk forward in the gusts. The mile did seem like a loooong time. I was aware that I wasn't saying much. Keeping a good straight course had all my attention. Looking at the data now it seems that the course was very true. I figured that the average would be solid but the run wasn't 'ballistic'. Considering it was our second run with the new foil and setup I'm pretty happy overall with the progression. By the end of the run I wasn't totally confident with the boats behaviour. Whilst the steering was great, the slight pitching was a little concerning. It felt fast... as it always has. But I now know what lies at the end of that dark alley. Malcolm wanted us to do another run after the first around the 45 knot mark just to progressively work up... so this one should be perfect from a data-base perspective.

The trip across the Lagoon is always a messy afair as is getting the boat back at the end.

So I guess I'm pretty happy with todays effort on a number of fronts. It's always nice to nail a difficult weather window and I'm happy with how I sailed the course. The boat in general felt good and the data collected off the TRIMBLE GPS and PI RESEARCH data logger is all spot on. Armed with this we will be able to move forward.

MALCOLMS COMMENTS FROM LOOKING AT PI RESEARCH AN TACKTICK DATA...

Had a brief look just now.No major surprises.

The steering seems quite close to centre (averaging a round -2 cm) - good
The rudder load seems to be a round 70kg average which seems a bit high. Did you check the calibration ?- I am using Georges latest workbook (as sent to you) but there could have been a shift.
sheeting mainly in the 14-16 region

The photos are great - it looks slightly light at the front (less spray) in one of them but it could just be a dynamic thing in the waves etc. Need to see video to get overall impression of loading.

Hope good wind comes soon.

Malcolm.

Cheers, Paul.