The Torpedalo - virtually at least...
Two Bentley engineers are planning to cross the Atlantic - naked - on a pedalo. Well, inside a pedalo actually, which in the light of the 'naked' thing is probably all for the good.
Mark Byass and Mike Sayer will be pedalling in turns for an estimated 40 days in their space-ship like Torpedalo, which will make the crossing as part of the flotilla competing in the Atlantic Rowing Race.
The Torpedalo is a nine metre carbon fibre vessel that the intrepid pair describe as a 'state of the art' pedalo. Frankly, we think it's about time that somebody updated a concept that's been pretty much undeveloped since first conceived by Leonardo da Vinci. (Which, sadly, is pretty much all that Wikipedia offers on this fascinating subject.)
Apparently a pedalo has only ever crossed the Atlantic once in 1994, when the journey took 111 days. The Torpedalo, which aims to do it in barely more than a third of the time, is claimed to be the most technologically advanced human-powered boat ever built.
Its speed, balance and hydrodynamics have undergone extensive simulation and testing at Newcastle University's hydrodynamic towing tank, and the high-tech, totally self-sufficient vessel will be constructed entirely of carbon fibre. Features include integrated solar panels for electricity generation, a desalination system for making fresh water from the ocean plus GPS, radar and satellite phone systems - although oddly there's no mention of a bespoke leather and walnut interior, or even a cocktail cabinet.
In anticipation of the journey, Mike and Mark have constructed a web site - www.Torpedalo.com - to chronicle their adventures in fundraising, designing and building the boat, and to update followers once they set out on the Atlantic on December 4th, 2011.
The Torpedalo's journey will be a distinctly perilous one, with commercial shipping vessels, bad weather, huge waves, and even sharks posing a significant threat. The pair intend to operate a shift pattern, so the boat is always moving, and will change places between the pedalling position and the sleeping cabin every two hours. To avoid salt sores, like the rowing crews, they'll be naked for the entire journey.
The Torpedalo project was started in January this year, with the principle aim of raising £250,000 for two charities - the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and Make-A-Wish Foundation UK.
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 Our heroes. Only with clothes on. |
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