Vestas Sailrocket 2 becomes a 60-knot sailboat!

[Baron Greenback]

With the modifcations made to the new foil on VESTAS Sailrocket 2 working so well in light winds, the team were keen to see if they would translate to high speeds. VSR2 had constantly been hitting a 'glass ceiling' around 52 knots despite the fact that she was designed to do well over 60. This is the day when theory turned into reality and the team got to see speeds they could only dare dream about when they started over 10 years earlier. Peak speed 61.92 knots, average over 500 meters 54.08 knots. This was the teams first sight of a new horizon. The peaks and the averages are expected to climb in the following runs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dokkkqBcyPQ

Dam that one fast boat just short of overall fastest wind powered boat!

[MartG]

Awesome !

[TTwiggy]

I love the fact that there appears to be a wind vane next to the pilot's head - I wonder what the apparent wind at 60knts is?!

[b14]

TTwiggy said:

I love the fact that there appears to be a wind vane next to the pilot's head - I wonder what the apparent wind at 60knts is?!

It's the apparent wind angle that becomes rather difficult at that speed I suspect.

[Hooli]

I say, that's moving a bit

[Ayahuasca]

I would still beat him in my Laser around a figure 8 course!

[Baron Greenback]

They have just broken the world record beating the kite surfers averaging 65knots over 500m and peaked 68knots! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pipGWQmerEQ&fe...

[yorkieboy]

Not built for comfort then Looks fantastic tho!