L’Hydroptere–a trimaran than turns into a hydrofoil–has always been one of the most interesting contestants in speed sailing game. Here’s how “skipper and pilot”, Alain Thebault, describes this wacky machine:
“At low speed, l’Hydroptère sails like a normal trimaran. From 10 knots, she starts to lift, and like for an aircraft you have to cant up the boat by angling up the elevator on the submerged bottom of the rudder. This is controlled from the helm with a joystick. Once l’’Hydroptère has reached her cruising altitude, between 2 and 3 metres, the helmsman, who has now become a pilot, brings her onto a horizontal trim by briefly canting the nose downwards. Connected to the water solely by her two marine wings and her aft “fin”, l’Hydroptère immediately reaches high speeds. The more the speed increases, the higher l’Hydroptère lifts out of the water thanks to the V arrangement of her foils.”
The issue with this baby has always been durability and the difficulties it has in rough water, but after a two year layoff for tweaking L’Hydroptere is back. Last week the boat broke the record from Dover to Calais, covering the 19 nautical miles in 34 minutes and 24 seconds. That’s an average speed of just over 33 knots, which is a higher average speed than any record ever ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. Top speed was an impressive 43.4 knots. The plan now is to chase after other records. Which ones, I’m not sure. But until this thing can prove itself in rough seas, the maxi-multihulls can rest easy. Check out this great photo gallery from Gilles Martin-Raget. It’s a very cool machine, isn’t it…
Dover-Calais Speedster: “Well, if we can’t keep it together in the Atlantic at least we can run a fast cross-Channel ferry service…”
The Earthist Chronicles 