100km/h Sailboat Sets Speed Record 103
fustakrakich writes with news that a boat powered only by its sails has reached speeds of 100km/h for the first time. The team also claims to have reached 109km/h over a 500m course. The craft took the speed record back from kite surfers, who have somewhat smaller sails but a massive weight advantage over boats.
"Sailrocket 2 set the record last week, and the speed 54.08 knots (100.1 km/h) the craft achieved has been recognized by the World Sailing Speed Record Council as the new mark in Class B for vessels traversing a 500 meter course. The speed is higher than any other vessel recorded in the Council’s lists and is the only recorded speed over 100 km/h."
Gizmag has a more detailed article about Sailrocket 2's exploits, and says in an update that the craft achieved speeds of 121km/h today (65.37 knots).
Re:Great, but... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dangerous (Score:2, Funny)
After a crash like that he builds a faster boat and gets in it? I'm surprised the boat is big enough to fit his balls!
Interesting fact: The boat is travelling almost 3 times faster than the wind. This is due to the apparent wind, i.e. the wind generated by the boat's own motion through the air.