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.