Catalyst N19 Jan 200
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Catalyst Journal of the Amateur Yacht Research Society Number 19 January 2005 Catalyst Features 11 Outleader Kites Dave Culp 21 Downwind as fast as you like John C Wilson 25 Mini-Trimaran Newman Darby 29 A Monoplane Wingsail Cruising Trimaran James Wright 33 AYRS John Hogg Memorial Prize W(R+r)/(R-r) Award 2005 WR/(R-r) W Regulars 3 News New world sailing speed record; Weymouth Speedweek; 6 Letters Case for a new mug; Proa crew wanted 40 Catalyst Calendar AYRS News Centrepage pull-out AYRS Annual Report Inside back cover AYRS AGM Agenda Cover photo: The Australian ocean racer AAPT tries out its new kite-spinnaker Photo: AAPT & Kiteship JANUARY 2005 1 Catalyst Kites are part of the future Journal of the Amateur Yacht Research Society The January edition of Catalyst tends to have a bias towards sailing fast, if only because it carries the report Editorial Team — of the AYRS-sponsored Speedweek at Weymouth. This Simon Fishwick time we have not only Speedweek to report (with a new Peter Westwood Weymouth record set) but also news of a new World Sheila Fishwick record set in the French trench by Finian Maynard. However, the comments by Bjorn Dunkerbeck at Specialist Correspondents Weymouth, by Finian in his article and the crash of Aerodynamics—Tom Speer Macquarie Innovation in Australia show that taking the Electronics—David Jolly record much further is very difficult indeed. The Human & Solar Power—Theo Schmidt Hydrofoils—George Chapman windsurfers are at the edge of their physical ability to Instrumentation—Joddy Chapman control rigs and boards, conventional foils are coming Iceboats & Landyachts—Bob Dill up against the onset of cavitation (the hydrofoil Kites—Dave Culp equivalent of the sound barrier), and all of them are Multihulls—Dick Newick running at speeds where even small waves make things Speed Trials—Bob Downhill at best uncomfortable, at worst impossible. Steam Power—Lord Strathcona Structures—Keith Burgess It was very noticeable at Weymouth that the Windmills & Turbines—Jim Wilkinson kiteboards were running as close inshore as they dared – sometimes in less than two feet (60cm) of water. With Catalyst is a quarterly journal of yacht research, design, and technology published by the Amateur their sails high up, they could do this and still get drive Yacht Research Society, BCM AYRS, London –windsurfers that close to the bank would have been in WC1N 3XX, UK. Opinions expressed are the its lee. When the kiteboarders have spent the time and author’s, and not those of AYRS. AYRS also publishes related booklets. resources on improving their craft that the windsurfers Contributions are welcome from all. Email them have spent on improving theirs, it is probable that they to [email protected], or send will take the record. (at your risk) disks or typed copy with illustrations to the Society’s office. AYRS can take no In the meantime those of us who potter around at responsibility for loss or damage. five knots in monohulls might wonder what it all has to AYRS subscribers receive both Catalyst and the do with us. Kiteship’s work (reported here) shows that booklets. Subscription is UK£20 or US$30 per annum for a Full Member, £10 or $15 for there is indeed some relevance. In fact the action of the students and retired members. Subscription ORC to ban kites from ocean racing shows that they requests and all other queries to be sent to the too think kites have some potential to improve monohull AYRS Office, BCM AYRS, London WC1N 3XX performance. It’s a pity that they are so frightened of UK, phone/fax +44 (1727) 862 268 or email: [email protected] the future that they don’t wish to know about it. Simon Fishwick AYRS is a UK Registered Educational Charity (No 234081) for the furthering of yacht science. Website: http://www.ayrs.org AYRS AGM Notice of the AGM is on the inside back cover. If you © 2004/5 Amateur Yacht Research Society want to join the Committee, or edit Catalyst, please contact the BCM AYRS, London WC1N 3XX, UK Hon Secretary, email: [email protected] or phone All Rights Reserved +44 (1727) 862268. You don’t have to live in the UK - Dave ISSN 1469-6754 Culp functions very well from California! 2 CATALYST News & Views New World Sailing Speed Record A new outright Speed World Record, the British, Dutch and Australian (windsurfing) records along with a fantastic new production board world record have all been accomplished in the hard-core ‘French Trench’ in the Camargue region of France. What a fantastic but gruelling two days of rugged The best two times of the riders who ran are: and psychotic conditions that actually went unsailed a Finian Maynard BVI 46.82, 46.60 (Outright World lot of the time because the wind was blowing too Record); D. Garrel FRA 44.21, 43.23; D. White GB hard for the equipment that we all had. 5.0’s were too 44.03, 43.44 (British and production board record); huge -- just to give an idea of what we were facing -- B. v.d Steen NL 43.71, 43.02 (Dutch record); S. Allen and that is what the smallest sails were for the most AUS 43.48, 42.09 (Australian windsurfing record); part. In fact, a modern 4.0-4.4 would have been the M.v.Meurs NL 42.11; J.B. Gautier FRA 40.55 40.20; preferable size for just about everyone as we got hit T. Bielak FRA 39.66; Karin Jaggi SUI 39.80, 38.04; F. by afternoon stretches on both afternoons whereby D’Urso ITA 39.35, 38.96 there was a solid 50-knots gusting to 60 for literally Finian Maynard, new world record holder writes: two hours at a time. The forecast was big for a few days but I had seen It was nuts and the lid literally flew off the top them drop out before so I was nervous if it would with the wind gods. Unfortunately the angle we were hold or not. The isobars were crunched on every asking for was too much (130-140) as big chop pressure map so I knew that we would get something developed on the course making it very difficult to go and that was reinforced the night before when every fast. TV weather channel were claiming 120 km/h winds Survival was the name of the game sometimes but right down the middle of the Rhone valley. breaking the record further requires calculated From what I had heard the Mistral was a hard control, power and finesse, which is simply wind and hard to go fast in so 50-knots would impossible to achieve in unison with the Mistral. The probably have to wait. What arrived was beyond my wind is far too irregular and twitchy to be super fast, wildest dreams and everyone else’s for that matter. fast enough for 50. We are looking for the big SE for There were stretches of wind that were almost that but it is clear that all the sailors were pretty happy with what we got and simply making it through the experience without injury! Well done to the entire MOS team of sailors, organization and management for a job well done. Hats off to Karin who came with .25 of a knot of the women’s outright record. She sailed so well in the hard conditions. Well done Dave White who shook off a bad accident a while back and set a very fast new GB and Production record and mention should be made to Benny who proved that he is a real up and comer in speed with his instant Dutch record. Watch out for him. Steve showed his skills holding down a 5.4 on Saturday and he is keen for some further SE wind. Now the focus turns to really turning it on and getting farther towards the ultimate…. 50. It won’t be easy that is clear but we are on the right track so we stay to fight another day. Yellow Pages was broken twice (once on Sat., once on Sun.) just to confirm that the time is now for windsurfers to take the level higher and higher. JANUARY 2005 3 News & Views hurricane strength with a bright blue sky! We had New record at Weymouth too gotten the real Mistral, the true French wind that is so famous worldwide. When we arrived at the beach it was clear that it For once the wind blew at Weymouth this was going to be a good day. When we opened I went October. Over 2300 runs were timed, and a new down the run with my big board (37.5 w/ 24 fin) and record set. Most of the fast runs were at the my 5.4. The speed was 43.5 but I could already feel beginning of the week as the wind lightened that this course was much harder than the SE and I for the last two days. wanted to get on smaller stuff immediately. I had to The best run was made by Bjorn Dunkerbeck, and work so much more and the little gusts all the way was 36.18 knots – a new record for Weymouth. In down coming over the land were super tough. They fact Dunkerbeck put in the fastest 15 runs of the are invisible basically so it is just a feeling and a hard- week, all of them over 33.9 knots.