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Pictured left
is the famous "Crossbow" that Tim Coleman pioneerd
throughout the Seventies, reaching a top speed of 36.0 kts (41.4 mph
or 66.7 km/h). |
| Another famous
competitor of the Weymouth Speed Week was "Icarus".
This craft evolved in many forms, including a kite powered version
that, quite literally, took off! Although very sucessfull speed machines,
none of the Icarus craft ever took the outright record. |
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A previous competitor
goes by the name of "Longshot". It is a hydrofoil trimaran
and is sailed by one person. Two curved foils are mounted beneath the
outer hulls, and a third foil forms an inverted ‘T’ at the bottom
of the rudder.
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The boat sails
on its hulls until it reaches 10 kts (11.5 mph or 18.5 km/h), then
the foils lift the boat clear of the water. Although it never held
the official record, it did achieved some very respectable speeds.
The craft was marketed for a time by Hobie-Cat, as the 'Trifoiler',
pictured left. |
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The current
record stands at 46.52 knots (53.5 mph or 86.2 km/h) and is held
by Simon McKeown of Australia in the craft 'Yellow Pages Endeavour'.
It was set in October, 1993 at Sandy Point, Victoria. At present,
there are sevreal teams around the world attempting to break the
'50 knot Barrier'.
This 'barrier'
has become somewhat legendary in the sailing world and to break
it is seen as one of the few remaining great historic achievements.
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