From Ollys Blog

Saturday, April 11, 2009Easter tidings….
A fine day, warmer and sunny followed by a magnificent full moon lighting the silvery waves this evening.  Few miles clawed to the east.   There were many flocks of birds crossing our path today heading north – I wonder if they’re off to warmer climes for winter.  Not sure what they were, seabirds for sure, maybe muttonbirds, though they looked a little  smaller and very fleet of foot they were too. The wind generator seems to be working loose somewhere as makes a hell of a racket, can’t find where though, hoope its still up top in the morning…   Now I must admit i ‘m not familiar with the etiquette of Easter at sea.  Not quite sure what we’ll do.  Of course there will be eggs for all the crew, then perhaps after church and communion (not for stan – he’s not confirmed), I fancy a treasure hunt might be in order before our sumptuous luncheon.  I’m also not sure what we will substitute the  pascal lamb with – perhaps a paschal  fur seal – plump and  juicy a  little  underdone with barnacle  sauce… Right best be off to  doze must not miss church in the morn….

posted by Olly Hicks @ 4:47 AM

Olly is about 150km Sw of New Zealand

here

World’s largest solar boat under construction in Germany

Washington, April 12 (ANI): A team of scientists, engineers, and yachtsmen are making what they say will be the largest solar boat ever built, with a view to making a trip around the world.

A concentration of futuristic technology

PlanetSolar is a multlihull vessel topped by a large array of photovoltaic solar panels, constructed by Knierim Yacht Club, in Kiel, Germany. Currently at the design stage, it will be a boat of impressive proportions, and yet it will be both silent and clean. The goal is to navigate around the world at an average speed of 10 knots — no mean feat for a solar-powered craft.

The multihull will be home to two sailors during the round-the-world attempt, and can accommodate up to fifty people during the promotional trips planned at each port of call.

The ideal shape and size of the boat for the chosen route will be determined by in-depth research. The PlanetSolar engineers have to factor in a host of parameters — propulsion, solar panel design, energy storage, materials, and the external environment. A whole range of studies will need to be conducted in areas such as the boat’s hydro and aerodynamics, the materials used, the management and storage of energy and, finally, the power plant and the optimal routing.

Planet Solar is being built at the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel, Germany.

The 13-million-dollar revolutionary vessel will be 98 feet long and 50 feet wide. That climbs to 114 feet and 82 feet when the solar panels are fully unfurled.

It will feature 5,059 square feet of photovoltaic cells.

Rivendell Holding AG, a Swiss firm that invests in renewable energy, is funding the project.

The objective behind this project is to prove that the shipping industry can reduce its dependence on fossil fuel.

The team plans to circumnavigate the globe at the equator in 120 days at an average speed of 10 knots.

Should they succeed, Planet Solar will set a maritime milestone because no one has circumnavigated the globe in a solar electric boat thus far.

“Solar boats are a viable form of transportation for the future. Our society is too dependent on fossil fuels, which are in limited supply and which are causing measurable negative effects on the earth’s atmosphere.

It’s now time to demonstrate the potential that renewable energies have to offer in the area of mobility,” Wired.com quoted Delia Collardi, a spokeswoman for the project, as saying.

Work on the solar cat’s hulls is almost complete, but the project still has a long way to go.

A press kit says the boat will weigh 60 tons and feature 470 square meters – 5,059 square feet – of photovoltaic cells that offer 22 percent efficiency.

Collardi says that the vessel will have enough power to carry skipper Raphael Domjan, the 37-year-old founder of Planet Solar, and navigator Gerard d’Aboville, both of whom are accomplished sailors and adventurers.

The route is still being worked out, but Planet Solar will set sail from Marseilles, France, sometime next year and cross the Atlantic, then cut through the Panama Canal to cross the Pacific.

From there she’ll head south through the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean before crossing the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Then it’s through the Suez Canal and across the Mediterranean Sea and back home.

Stops in New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Monaco are among those being considered.

Collardi has revealed that supporters and well-wishers will be welcomed aboard, and that 50 people can fit inside the catamaran for short jaunts.

Immo Stroher (communique-frankfurt-20081028-en), founder and president of Rivendell Holding, has dibs on Solar Planet at the end of the journey.
ANI

press release here-en

Red Funnel Easter Challenge

- Final Day Report
Written by Louay Habib

Sunday, 12 April 2009 15:57
Brains Not Brawn

Winner of the Red Funnel Prix d’Elegance Trophy, Toe in the WaterThe final day of the Red Funnel Easter Regatta organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club saw light airs yacht racing for the third day in row. The Race Committee set up windward leeward courses similar to yesterday. A light northerly breeze of eight knots gradually diminished during the day, so much so, that the second race was shortened for three of the classes.

Coach Jim Saltonstall continued to give top tips to the competitors: “Whether you are sailing in big waves with 40 knots of wind or ghosting along in light airs, you need to sail to the best of your ability to get the results that you wish for. In very light conditions, sailors really need to concentrate on maintaining their focus. Boredom can create mental apathy and the bottom line is that concentration levels have got to be 100% in light airs, just as much as at any other time.”

Class Super Zero

Peter Harrison’s Farr 52, Chernikeeff 2 staged a great end to the regatta reeling off a hat trick of bullets to win their class. “I am the oldest guy on the boat” explained 25 year old skipper, Luke Cross. “It is the same crew as last year and things are really coming together well and all of the crew are from the UK Sailing Academy (UKSA) in Cowes. We have been out for the last two weekends racing and I think that really helped, but it is always nice to get a win early in the season. Jim Saltonstall was really helpful, especially with the main and jib trim; we had both of the trimmers off the boat and he showed them how to set up the trim and that made a huge difference.”

The RYA keelboat’s TP52, John Merricks II was second and Tony Langley’s Farr 45, Atomic of Cowes was third in class.
Class Zero

This is the first time that owner-driver, Michael Bartholomew’s King 40, Tokoloshe has sailed at the regatta. Michael and about half of the crew are from South Africa. “We have really enjoyed the regatta and I must say that the relaxation of the rules to allow coaching is a good idea, especially as the event is at the start of the season. Our intention is to compete inshore and offshore with the RORC this season prior to the Rolex Fastnet Race in August” commented Bartholomew. Neil Martin’s J 133, Jammy Dodger was second and Jan-Willem Jannink MAT 12, Foxy was third overall in class.
Class One

Tim and Sophie Harrington’s X 35, Vortex, managed to hold off Peter Robson’s, First 40.7, Playing Around and Paul Anderson’s A 40, Toe in the Water to clinch the class, a repeat of their win in 2007. “This has been a fantastic start to the season for us and a great boost for our campaign this year, which will include Cowes Week and the X 35 Nationals. All credit to the RORC for managing to get six races in under difficult conditions” commented Tim Harrington, shortly after racing.
Class Two

David & Jackie Riley’s Corby 33, No Retreat came out on top, but only by half a point from Chris & Hannah Neve’s, First 34.7 No Doubt. Nick and Suzy Jones’ First 34.7, Astarte was third in class. “Paul Blowers was outstanding on tactics for us this weekend and deserves all the credit. He was also mean to me and extremely kind to my wife so he really got everything spot on!” joked David Riley, “I would also say a big thank you to designer, John Corby who has been extremely helpful and supportive.”
Class Three & Quarter Ton Class

In IRC 3, Louise Morton’s Quarter Tonner, Espada won by three points but in the Quarter Ton class alone, the 1981 Farr designed Espada, was just one point ahead of Mike Till’s Quarter Tonner, Bullet. Paul Kelsey’s Quarter Tonner, Runaway Bus was third. The Quarter Ton Class has made quite a resurgence and it is hoped that more of them will be at the Red Funnel Easter Challenge next year.

RORC Racing Manager, Ian Loffhagen commented after racing: “The Red Funnel Easter Challenge once again lived up to its name; last year we had too much wind and this year the challenge was barely enough to race. The successful competitors were those who got their heads out of the boat and reacted to the changes in conditions with the correct wind and tidal strategies.”

Jonathan Green, Red Funnel’s Sales & Marketing Director presented prizes to the class winners and commented: “Red Funnel have been supporting the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Easter Regatta for many years. The event has grown from a handful of boats kick-starting the sailing season, to a popular and successful regatta. We are proud to continue our support and welcome old and new faces to the Isle of Wight.”

The Red Funnel Prix d’Elegance Trophy was awarded to Toe in the Water. Toe in the Water Director Tanya Brookfield said: “Toe in the Water would like to thank the Royal Ocean Racing Club for all its support. The event organisation this weekend has been excellent and we appreciate their continued enthusiasm for our competitive sailing initiative for injured servicemen.”

more here

Barberá rompe cinco días después el contrato de las regatas con ACM
La alcaldesa sigue sin explicar la razón de las prisas por pactar con Alinghi

Barberá breaks five days later the contract of the ditches with ACM
The mayoress continues without explaining the reason of the hurries to compromise with Alinghi.

El contrato millonario que la alcaldesa de Valencia, Rita Barberá, y la Generalitat, firmaron a bombo y platillo con Ernesto Bertarelli, el propietario de la empresa America’s Cup Management (ACM) y del equipo Alinghi, quedó este jueves sin efecto. La alcaldesa decidió el pasado lunes día 6, tan sólo cinco días después de firmarlo, romper el compromiso que, supuestamente, le garantizaba una regata de veleros el próximo mes de julio a cambio de abonar, conjuntamente con la Generalitat, nueve millones de euros más IVA. Un simple fax remitido a ACM, propietaria de los derechos de la Copa del América, dio cuenta de que el Ayuntamiento y la Generalitat se acogían a la cláusula 4.5 para romper “todo vínculo contractual”.

The millionaire contract that the mayoress of Valency, Rita Barberá, and the Generalitat, signed with a great fanfare with Ernesto Bertarelli, the owner of the company America’s Cup Management (ACM) and of the team Alinghi, stayed this Thursday without effect. The mayoress decided last Monday, the 6th, only five days after signing it, breaking the commitment that, supposedly, was guaranteeing a ditch of sailing ships next July in exchange for paying, jointly with the Generalitat, nine million euros more VAT. A simple fax sent to ACM, proprietress of the rights of the Glass of the America, realized of that the Town hall and the Generalitat were receiving to the clause 4.5 to break ” any contractual tie “.

more here

online translation here

Ice record challenge

Surface problems end the New Year challenge in Montana

The ice craft was prepared and ready – but in our last ice record attempt it was the ice surface that became the problem. The frequency of large ice bumps on the frozen Canyon Ferry Lake prevented the craft from travelling flat against the ice at the speed required for a record attempt.

We’ll need a smooth, flat surface for a world record – but now with the ice melting rapidly our craft will have to wait until Winter 2009.

In the meantime, WE JUST SMASHED THE LAND RECORD!!
The next ice record attempt

The promising practice runs we were able to have at this location early in 2009, combined with the latest craft modifications give us great confidence for Winter 2009 and breaking the world record on ice towards the end of this year!

The highest accurately (GPS) recorded speed for a wind-powered ice craft is 84 mph.

There are many higher, un-ratified claims from the early part of the 20th century, including a Guinness Book record of 143 mph in 1938 that some experts believe was impossible due to type of craft at that time.

more here

more ice yachts here

more here

latest video here

Ben Costello onboard Delta Lloyd

Photo by Sander Pluijm/Team Delta Lloyd/Volvo Ocean Race

Photos by Gabriele Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race

ERICSSON 4 LEG FIVE DAY 2 QFB:

received 12.04.09 1338 GMT

We can see the entire fleet as we all plod past Cabo Frio. It’s a mere 65 miles from Rio but it has still taken us 19 hrs to get here.

Had a fantastic send off as we exited the bay, rounded a mark off Copacabana beach and headed for Boston – I think that most people were out to get a glimpse of Brazil’s top Olympian and favourite son – Torben Grael – a few would have lost their voices due to the amount of cheering and good luck wishes aimed at Ericsson 4 and this warm send off reflected the hospitality we all received whilst in town. It was a  very welcome break at the end of 40+ days onboard and we all just wish to convey our thanks to all involved in the Rio stopover.

At the moment we are switching between the code zero and the code 3 jib as we get a slight tidal push up around the uninhabited island which hosts Cabo Frio.

Torben spoke earlier of the military owned island and its wonderful diving and its unspoiled beauty and it sounds like a nice area to visit – if only we had the time!

This is my second time round the headland and both times with the code 3 jib up – but this time we are using the jib as a wind seeker as it is smaller and doesn’t bask against the rig as much as a larger lighter  sail. In the 1 – 2kts of wind there is a hell of a lot of flapping and this is accentuated by the huge lazy rolling seaway we have to contend with – plus its rebound coming back off the land.

Going forward onto the bow you almost need to clip on what with the seaway and the flapping jib – but if you did end up over the side you could easily swim back to the boat as the top speed of the last hour has been a staggering 1.2kts!

Everyone is trying to slip back into the watch system and this is one of the hardest times of a leg as the sleep pattern isn’t second nature and the real world and its luxuries are still very fresh in the mind – not including the thoughts of the loved ones who we will not have contact with for the next couple of weeks.

We are expecting breeze soon (hopefully a light sea breeze which is due anytime) and as we head north with the trades it is likely to be a  little bit of a procession, so keeping close and in touch with the  leaders is critical.

That’s about all for now

Guy Salter MCM

These boats just chew people up and spit them out…

They can be pretty nasty

Gabriele Olivo / Telefonica Blue / Volvo Ocean Race

By Riath Al-Samarrai

It’s the second week of leg four, the wind is low and the sea is choppy. Anders Dahlsjo is working in the pit of Ericsson 3 when suddenly the boom breaks free of a line and slams against his head. He’s out cold.

When he comes round he’s in Richard Mason’s “no mercy medical clinic”, blood trickling from his head. Mason cleans the wound and glues it shut before returning to his day job.

A few days earlier, Mason, the onboard medic, used forceps to pull out a mashed thumbnail from Magnus Olsson’s throbbing hand. Olsson then returned to skipper the boat, a position he has held since Anders Lewander tore the medial meniscus in his left knee in leg three. Mason went on to suffer a prolapsed disc in his back, ruling him out of leg five.

Across the ocean on PUMA, Ken Read is staring at a grotesquely mangled and bloodied index finger after it got jammed in a titanium block. Grimacing in pain, Telefonica Blue’s Bouwe Bekking is close to fainting after tearing a buttock muscle. Watching from home is PUMA’s Chris Nicholson, two screws embedded in his right knee after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the second leg.

Never before have the pre-start words of Neal McDonald, a Green Dragon watch captain, seemed more apt. “These boats just chew people up and spit them out,” he said in Alicante. “They can be pretty nasty.”

more here

“In the world of speed sailing, kite surfers can sail in very shallow water (down to less than 10 cm), which gives us very flat water without chop. Last year the sailing world changed the rules to force us into deeper water saying that using shallow water was using ground effect and reducing drag which is cheating, but reading your report it seems the opposite is true for displacement hulls. Do the same rules apply to planing hulls that are pushing 50 knots in water depths less than half of the beam of the board?

This new rule is pushing us into choppier water and slowing us down and not letting us show our true potential to sail as fast as possible. We are trying to put a case together (if there is one) to challenge this rule that – as far as a bunch of surfer types can make out – is a bit unfair to us.

So the question I’m asking is “do we get an advantage in terms of speed from sailing in very shallow water with a planing hull in terms of ground effect or is it a disadvantage like your report states for displacement hulls?”

more here

Minimum Planing Speed here

CNN’s monthly sailing show “MainSail” explores one of the world’s most exhilarating, glamorous and toughest sports. “MainSail” brings viewers the latest from the biggest sailing events, plus technology and business aspects of the sport.

The show also showcases human endeavours accomplished by some of the world’s greatest sailors and keeps viewers up to date with the latest news concerning the major races and regattas around the world.

This week the RC44 is spotlighted

Enjoy

This post is tagged ben costello, bertarelli, cnn, ericsson, ernesto, funnel, global, greenbird, hicks, ice, kite, mainsail, ocean, olly, planet, rc44, red, row, royal, sailing, solar, speed, surfers, toe in the water, vir, virgin, volvo, yacht, yachts