Happy 21'st run Sailrocket...and 22nd...and damned near 23rd!
Hi all, so today we got a call from Frank to go and watch him fly his remote control jet. The good tide wasn't until the arvo so off to the desert we went. There was a case of jet envy as the local 'whizzers' watched the 'Gripen' whistle out onto the runway. Man that thing hustles... and it sounds like a jet too. I stood by Frank in case he got out of shape and needed someone to jump in but he seemed to be fine so I picked up the camera instead.
Once again the forecast wind wasn't shaping up but we decided to go on full standby anyway. I called Hiskia in early as he was on the 'Wuyang' and needs a bit of warning. That trike-bike is a mule... not a thoroughbred. The wind swung into the West and began to build. It had been North all morning. In fact, the change had come in the wee hours of early morning. We have developed a good ear for it in our steel container. Both Helena and I pick it up at the same time. It means that we have to get up and go and spin the boat around to face the new breeze. I must admit that I do this in the minimum of clothing and as quick as possible i.e. this morning I didn't even put on the lights.
So Hiskia arrived but we struggled to find the random fifth person. I called around but everyone was busy. Mind you, we have a wierd agenda and all these other locals have jobs, families and other more normal committments. Sometimes sailing Sailrocket is just testing on the patience or plain stressful. I try and share the load amongst the volunteers as much as possible but occassionally there just isn't enough. Today we came up short and couldn't find anyone. I was determined to get out there and try the new mods. we HAVE to get a money run sooner or later.
In speed-sailing terms, Life begins at 40 knots. Sailrocket has to get over that 40 knot hurdle to really be considered anything close to eligible for a crack at the title. Only four boats have ever pulled off a 40 knot run, five if you count Yellow pages and Mac. Inn. as two boats (which I guess you should... sort of). The other three are Hydroptere, Longshot and Technique advancee... all hydrofoilers.
In true sailrocket form we grabbed a guy from the bar at the yacht club. Roelof had parked up his 'dart' catamaran for the day and thought his sailing was over for the weekend. "Not so, my friend, chuck this here Musto 'wetty' on and let's go-ho-ho". We had a team.
Conditions looked awesome. we set up the 'Tacktick' weather station and saw exactly what we wanted. Winds of 17-19 knots from the ideal angle... occasionaly touching 20. Purrrrfect.
We quickly shot up the course to sieze the day before anything changed. the first run went well and for once I was aware that I was looking where I was going with the pointy nose of Sailrocket squarely in the middle of the frame. This was a good indication that the boat was tracking as it should. She just felt different. She felt fast and stable. I knew we were over 30 knots and it wasn't a battle. I played with the flap control but fumbled for the line. I concentrated on getting in close and a few of the other controls and it was over. I did a hard 'handbrake' turn in an aggressive round-up at the end. It worked great. Gotta be careful I don't get too cocky. we recorded a 34.something run. It was a good test of the rather major mods and I was happy. I don't think that I sheeted in to the buisness end of the range much below 18 degrees. The next run was going to be the 40 knot run. I was fired up so we quickly dropped the rig and headed back up the course.
I got on the course in nice shape and was happy with my line. My objective was to focus on sheeting into around 10 degrees which should be optimal. the first run was a shakedown but this time I just BADLY WANTED to punch through 40 knots. Right when we had settled into a mid 30's speed and I was about to initiate the details of speed i.e. sheeting angle and main-flap engagement, I became aware that something was wrong. A chunk of boat was slamming against the side of the cockpit. Damn it, it was the bloody 'black box' data logger. We had to mount it externally on the leeward side for a number of reasons including 'loom' length, GPS reception and general space requirements. The cable ties had failed and now it was flailing around hanging on its cords at 35 knots. I grabbed it with one hand before it destroyed itself or the side of the cockpit and then worked like mad with my other hand to bring the whole show to a stop. I did another wild round-up at speed where I had to drop the box into the water again for a second or two... better that than the rig. I'm stopping so quick now that the RIB barely has time to catch me before I'm on the beach.
We hit 37 knots during all that. I'm sure that we are pulling off some good 500 m averages.
But still no 40's. Damnit.... we would go again. we dropped the rig and headed up the course for a third attempt. The tide was going out and the wind definitely wasn't any weaker. It was now solid 20's and gusting over. By the time we got the rig it was more like 21-23 knots. The sun was going down. Bugger it. I decided to go anyway. Even if we did a slower run, I could try out a few other things like the skeg-flap steering. Three of the team left Andreas and myself alone at the top of the course as they took their stations down by the speedhut. I was standing by the cockpit when I looked forward and realised Andreas was in trouble holding the boat. A swell had surged in and he was up to his neck. he was off his feet and sailrocket was blowing backwards. I ran forward to help but it was too late. sailrocket was tied at the transom by it's anchor/tether and all hell was about to break loose. I clambered on the boat and shot back to the cockpit furiously putting on the foot steering and getting the controls in order. I was going to dump the tether and try and sail out of trouble. Sailrocket lunged forward and sailed over Andreas. He was now on the inside of the bow and hanging on for dear life. I eased the wing well out to try and feather the boat but the tether was pulling the transom. I was neither here nor there and had to watch to see which way the boat would go. Andreas had somehow managed to climb onto the bow and was now hanging onto it like you would straddle a log stuck out off the top floor of the Empire State Building. He had a leg and an arm either side and a death-grip. Sailrocket sailed forward to shallower water and Andreas slipped off on the right side and grabbed the bow. I quickly slipped the tether which allowed the transom to swing freely and once again Sailrocket feathered back into the wind.
Cheeerist!
For a moment there I honestly thought I was going to be headed down the course with Andreas as a 'hood' ornament. We both cracked up laughing. I wish someone had of filmed that. when I saw him on the bow I frantically turned the camera on but I'm not sure what came out. Somehow we survived. I called the third run off. It was shallow and dark. The wind was up and it was choppy. we headed back to the Yacht Club.
What a great day. 40 knots WILL fall very soon and then we will begin picking off each knot from there on in up to 50. There are still devils in the detail but one by one we are exercising them. Experience is allowing us to be bold with this difficult boat.
We're ready to roll for tomorrow.
Vids to be posted soon.
Cheers, Paul.
Once again the forecast wind wasn't shaping up but we decided to go on full standby anyway. I called Hiskia in early as he was on the 'Wuyang' and needs a bit of warning. That trike-bike is a mule... not a thoroughbred. The wind swung into the West and began to build. It had been North all morning. In fact, the change had come in the wee hours of early morning. We have developed a good ear for it in our steel container. Both Helena and I pick it up at the same time. It means that we have to get up and go and spin the boat around to face the new breeze. I must admit that I do this in the minimum of clothing and as quick as possible i.e. this morning I didn't even put on the lights.
So Hiskia arrived but we struggled to find the random fifth person. I called around but everyone was busy. Mind you, we have a wierd agenda and all these other locals have jobs, families and other more normal committments. Sometimes sailing Sailrocket is just testing on the patience or plain stressful. I try and share the load amongst the volunteers as much as possible but occassionally there just isn't enough. Today we came up short and couldn't find anyone. I was determined to get out there and try the new mods. we HAVE to get a money run sooner or later.
In speed-sailing terms, Life begins at 40 knots. Sailrocket has to get over that 40 knot hurdle to really be considered anything close to eligible for a crack at the title. Only four boats have ever pulled off a 40 knot run, five if you count Yellow pages and Mac. Inn. as two boats (which I guess you should... sort of). The other three are Hydroptere, Longshot and Technique advancee... all hydrofoilers.
In true sailrocket form we grabbed a guy from the bar at the yacht club. Roelof had parked up his 'dart' catamaran for the day and thought his sailing was over for the weekend. "Not so, my friend, chuck this here Musto 'wetty' on and let's go-ho-ho". We had a team.
Conditions looked awesome. we set up the 'Tacktick' weather station and saw exactly what we wanted. Winds of 17-19 knots from the ideal angle... occasionaly touching 20. Purrrrfect.
We quickly shot up the course to sieze the day before anything changed. the first run went well and for once I was aware that I was looking where I was going with the pointy nose of Sailrocket squarely in the middle of the frame. This was a good indication that the boat was tracking as it should. She just felt different. She felt fast and stable. I knew we were over 30 knots and it wasn't a battle. I played with the flap control but fumbled for the line. I concentrated on getting in close and a few of the other controls and it was over. I did a hard 'handbrake' turn in an aggressive round-up at the end. It worked great. Gotta be careful I don't get too cocky. we recorded a 34.something run. It was a good test of the rather major mods and I was happy. I don't think that I sheeted in to the buisness end of the range much below 18 degrees. The next run was going to be the 40 knot run. I was fired up so we quickly dropped the rig and headed back up the course.
I got on the course in nice shape and was happy with my line. My objective was to focus on sheeting into around 10 degrees which should be optimal. the first run was a shakedown but this time I just BADLY WANTED to punch through 40 knots. Right when we had settled into a mid 30's speed and I was about to initiate the details of speed i.e. sheeting angle and main-flap engagement, I became aware that something was wrong. A chunk of boat was slamming against the side of the cockpit. Damn it, it was the bloody 'black box' data logger. We had to mount it externally on the leeward side for a number of reasons including 'loom' length, GPS reception and general space requirements. The cable ties had failed and now it was flailing around hanging on its cords at 35 knots. I grabbed it with one hand before it destroyed itself or the side of the cockpit and then worked like mad with my other hand to bring the whole show to a stop. I did another wild round-up at speed where I had to drop the box into the water again for a second or two... better that than the rig. I'm stopping so quick now that the RIB barely has time to catch me before I'm on the beach.
We hit 37 knots during all that. I'm sure that we are pulling off some good 500 m averages.
But still no 40's. Damnit.... we would go again. we dropped the rig and headed up the course for a third attempt. The tide was going out and the wind definitely wasn't any weaker. It was now solid 20's and gusting over. By the time we got the rig it was more like 21-23 knots. The sun was going down. Bugger it. I decided to go anyway. Even if we did a slower run, I could try out a few other things like the skeg-flap steering. Three of the team left Andreas and myself alone at the top of the course as they took their stations down by the speedhut. I was standing by the cockpit when I looked forward and realised Andreas was in trouble holding the boat. A swell had surged in and he was up to his neck. he was off his feet and sailrocket was blowing backwards. I ran forward to help but it was too late. sailrocket was tied at the transom by it's anchor/tether and all hell was about to break loose. I clambered on the boat and shot back to the cockpit furiously putting on the foot steering and getting the controls in order. I was going to dump the tether and try and sail out of trouble. Sailrocket lunged forward and sailed over Andreas. He was now on the inside of the bow and hanging on for dear life. I eased the wing well out to try and feather the boat but the tether was pulling the transom. I was neither here nor there and had to watch to see which way the boat would go. Andreas had somehow managed to climb onto the bow and was now hanging onto it like you would straddle a log stuck out off the top floor of the Empire State Building. He had a leg and an arm either side and a death-grip. Sailrocket sailed forward to shallower water and Andreas slipped off on the right side and grabbed the bow. I quickly slipped the tether which allowed the transom to swing freely and once again Sailrocket feathered back into the wind.
Cheeerist!
For a moment there I honestly thought I was going to be headed down the course with Andreas as a 'hood' ornament. We both cracked up laughing. I wish someone had of filmed that. when I saw him on the bow I frantically turned the camera on but I'm not sure what came out. Somehow we survived. I called the third run off. It was shallow and dark. The wind was up and it was choppy. we headed back to the Yacht Club.
What a great day. 40 knots WILL fall very soon and then we will begin picking off each knot from there on in up to 50. There are still devils in the detail but one by one we are exercising them. Experience is allowing us to be bold with this difficult boat.
We're ready to roll for tomorrow.
Vids to be posted soon.
Cheers, Paul.
posted by Paul at 8:34 pm
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