This unconventional sailing boat, named the SailRocket, reached a record speed of 47.35 knots (87.6 km/h or 54.43 mph), on average over a distance of 500 meters. During another run, the boat reached a speed of 52 knots before lifting off for a spectacular in-the-air wipeout (also caught on video). More below.
Last month, the French catamaran l'Hydroptère (pictured below) reached a record speed of 50.08 knots (92.7 km/h or 57.60 mph), on average over a distance of 500 meters, which makes it the fastest wind powered boat to date.
In December 2008, l'Hydroptère shortly reached 61 knots (112 km/h or 69.60 mph), but then it flipped and got turtled (picture below).
Related :
- Sailing at the touch of a button : wind-powered, computer-controlled.
- Kiteboating : the sailing ship, reinvented
- Cargo ships, then and now : which one is fastest?
- Ocean liners : from London to New York in 3 days and 12 hours.
- The Kalakala : the art of slow travel.
- Hull speed : watercraft contain a speed barrier that is dependent on the length of the ship and on the shape of the bow.
- Human and wind-powered speed records.
- The Ictíneo : a steam powered submarine.
- The Aeromodeller II : camping in the clouds.
- The Hennepin Crawler : macho pedal power.
- Wind powered tricycles: sail assisted trikes
