Things so far are looking unimpressive.
I believe they're aiming to use the same inverted foil concept as sail rocket, but the hull/s already look like they're throwing way too much spray, and a kite is going to be much harder to keep in the correct zone to not just flip the boat.
Not sure what's happening here, are they relying on the kite for direction?
If so not using foils so they may escape the cavitation limitation.
Or they are using super cavitation foils?
Not sure if the kite linkage pod is a solid link to the foil or not, in a lot ways it would make sense for it to be, in other ways it wouldn't. Not sure if they're using super cavitating foils or not.
looking at the sail rocket 2 foil design, they ended up with a blunt back to surpass the cavitation wall (super cavitating foil). Maybe they plan on the same design for this one
As I understand it, to go much over 50kts a super cavitating foil is necessary.
But that boat doesn't look like it's sitting on foils, good old fashioned planning hulls. So I think it needs the kite to be pulling in the optimum angle to the wind.
All supposition really.
But unless they have a way around the cavitation problem, I can't see it succeeding.
They did have an earlier concept video out some years back (this video is a few months old now too) so reasonably sure they plan to use foil, but not a traditional type foil where it lifts, the foil will actually be holding the boat in the water and counteracting the pull from the kite.
looking at the pods that form the "hull", they're way too big. And keeping a kite that can move around in a number of directions on the perfect counter balance position is going to be a mission. If they can start to get it up to speed, it'll be a fine line between working and blowing up.
Been following these guys for a while now, they have done 40kts with their training foils in and are just slowly learning about the craft and the kite. The kite launching and retrieving was a big step towards chasing the record, it's a big thing to put into the air safely. Just finished the structure tests after finding a crack in a component and they're now happy it won't fail apart at speed. Next step is go fast foils and increase the wind strength.
I'd presume they would have a kite release system when things start to go wrong. But then releasing the kite may violently swing forces the other way. Especially if they are using a reverse foil to counteract the kite pull. It would be amazing to watch.
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..
I'd presume they would have a kite release system when things start to go wrong. But then releasing the kite may violently swing forces the other way. Especially if they are using a reverse foil to counteract the kite pull. It would be amazing to watch.
Yes, they spent a lot of time on that and launching safely
It is my understanding from reading their earlier press releases that they are indeed intending to use 'supercavitating' foils.
Anyone using a kite to break the speed record must just really like kites. I can see no other reason for it.
Is it because, an asymmetric kite will head at close to optimum angle by it self. They are certainly better at going downwind.
A sailed craft needs efficient foils to go fast. over 50kts cavitation reduces foil efficiencies.
At slow speeds super-cavitation foils aren't efficient.
So you need one sort of foil to get to 50kts and another sort to go over it.
I have a feeling that Kite driven craft won't be affected as much by this problem.
The kite possibly has enough downwind power to drag the craft to 50kts.
