We finally got out on the water today after overcoming a few technical issues involving the electronics and some of the sailing hardware. Man-of-the-match goes to Alex Adams for digging deep into the hearts of the COSWORTH data loggers and managing to breath life into them at the 11th hour. I wouldn't have gone sailing without them as the data is simply that important for us to be able to understand the boat and what she needs. We always have to be prepared for the boat making a quantum performance leap with each modification we make and therefore we need to be ready to cope with it.

As the wind built it was obvious it was going to be a good day. I was happy to be heading out. It's too easy to make excuses why you shouldn't sail. The team is already getting slicker at their jobs and that alone is a good reason to hit the water. 

The wind was only around 18-20 when we got to the top of the course but it was sunny and looked promising. We held on for our first run. My plan was to do one solid run that would provide us with a heap of data which we could go away with and digest. Basically we wanted to get a solid understanding of where we were at. After yesterdays run I was pretty sure that we would go faster. We got virtually no data yesterday apart from the basics of speed and a roughish wind estimate.

The wind built a little so we went for it. Our timing was spot-on. The wind was gusting to 25. VESTAS Sailrocket 2 wanted to go. I am now more familiar with how to get her started. I had a good long conversation with Chris and Wang from AEROTROPE a few days ago and they suggested I should be sheeting in a lot more in my initial start up. I did this and steered the boat accordingly. The idea is to bring the wing in so all the section are aligned and complimenting each other... then I sail the boat into the wind until the wind attaches to the wing and unstalls it. Well whatever I did (and it's recorded from four different cameras in video and stills and on the COSWORTH data loggers) it worked because VSR2 took off today. Any worries we had about mid range speed issues was dispelled as we accelerated fast and effortlessly through 40 knots. In fact, VESTAS Sailrocket 2 accelerated so easily that I sheeted out before I turned down the course for fear of what she might try and do. We want to make solid improvements... not just burn it up to the scene of the next mighty wipeout! She really came alive down the course. I was checking all the key points out. The leeward pod wasn't flying but neither should it be until we are doing 50.

THE LOCAL 'WINDIES' WATCH IN ANTICIPATION. THEY'VE SEEN SOM OF OUR BIGGEST RUNS BEFORE AND THEY'LL SEE THE ONES STILL TO COME. ALWAYS FUN TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE BOYS.

NOW THAT LOOKS LIGHT ON ITS FEET AND A PICTURE OF EFFICIENCY. FANTASTIC!

LESS SPRAY OFF THE MAIN FOIL THAN EXPECTED WHICH SUGGESTS A CLEAN FLOW NEAR THE SURFACE.

The steering was responsive, the sheeting was very responsive. It was obvious we were over 40 knots. I was happy with the fact that we were now at a stage where the boat was just simply working. We haven't seen the outright performance but it will come. It appears that we have no mid range bogey man with tis new foil... unless they are waiting further down the path. We all figured that this new foil should start to work properly at around 40-45 knots. We are there now. This foil has no top speed limits other than it's own structural limits. All the issues that limited the outright speed potential of boats like VESTAS Sailrocket 1, Hydroptere and Maquarie Innovations do not apply to this foil. Yes, I am excited by this. I feel we are witnessing something special for the first time. I'm pretty sure that no-one has ever made these foils go this fast on a sailing vessel ever before.

I'll leave it at that for now. We still have to digest the data... and of course we still have to go a fair bit faster... but well, I reckon we will.

It was a pleasure to call the team and give them the good news of some great progress.

Tomorrow does not look so windy but Tuesday is forecast to Honk. We will use tomorrow to calibrate evrything and really polish up on some of the details. New fittings should arrive by courier and we will be ready.

The 50 knot bottle of champagne awaits.

Cheers, Paul