Strange 'boaty' thing on Itchen today

[Legmaster]

Spotted this out of the office window today, went down the River Itchen, then back up river about 10 minutes later.

Assuming aliens aren't attacking us by river, anyone have any idea what it is?

[Orchid1]

Thunderbird 5?

[kowalski655]

Any fewl know TB5 is the space station
Maybe a replacement for TB4...Or some wires hydrofoil design

Edited by kowalski655 on Wednesday 8th March 18:17

[tuffer]

Complete guess, a marshals/rules officials boat for Rowing races.

[Legmaster]

It appeared to be self powered, had some form of hull structure under water, you can just see the underwater element peeping out the water fwd. There was a bloke in the cockpit/bubble on top 'driving'. Nothing towing it, just a small support inflatable.

Up river is Southamptin Yacht Services & Green Marine, some funky project they are working on perhaps?

Sorry for rubbish pictures, rushed from phone in the middle of a meeting through dirty windows...

[ecsrobin]

My colleague got a photo last month in the Solent. It's a powerboat of some sort.

[Simpo Two]

Bond-style film prop?

[Ledaig]

From a quick(ish) Google - Glider Yachts

[RobDickinson]

To my admittedly untrained eye this looks absolute bks.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/arti...

5 berths but huge 60ft, no cabin no toilet $1m not speedboat thing.

OK best to dress up the driver like a naval officer and fill it with hot chicks that'll sell em..

[Ledaig]

But that's just the 'Super Sports'

"For true exhilaration seekers, why not unleash the 3400bhp of the Hyper Sports version with sub 3.5 seconds 0-60 acceleration and top speed over 96+knots"

If you want bigger, have a look at the 'Grand Touring' range at up to 80 metres.

Or alternatively you could get the limo if you just need to get from your even bigger floaty thing to the shore. At least you won't spill your Martini if they are honest about the stability

[Simpo Two]

'Miami to the Bahamas in just 45 minutes'

I make that 130 miles so that's 173mph...



Website claims 65mph

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 8th March 22:36

[RobDickinson]

Bimini is 45miles apparently.

[w1bbles]

Yes, but Tom Jones and Chris de Burgh are both on the team.

http://glideryachts.com/team/

[saaby93]

Here it is



In the background, is that one of those boats in for a new engine?

[Legmaster]

Thanks all.

Can't see this catching on myself, but then again I'm a square rigged tall ship sailor so anything that goes faster than 6kn or makes progress to windward is the devil's work to me...

[MBBlat]

All the disadvantages of a swath and a wave piercing catamaran in one vessel with none of the advantages.

Load carrying capacity is probably minimal - the reason that the four cold looking young ladies weren't wearing coats is that the thing would probably sink if they were

[Dogwatch]

MBBlat said:

Load carrying capacity is probably minimal - the reason that the four cold looking young ladies weren't wearing coats is that the thing would probably sink if they were

Never mind, the price is astronomical! If you've got it, flaunt it.

[Huntsman]

Interesting, I'm at Ocean Quay and haven't seen it go past, will keep an eye open, looks like a pointless experiment to me.

[R8Steve]

Mooring fees of a 60ft boat to have what is basically a 24ft speedboat, great idea.

[Jonmx]

That looks gash. You'd look like a proper throbber turning up anywhere in that unless you're Captain Scarlet.