Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @SeaLaunay
by Lia Ditton @LiaArtistSailor
In early June last year, the 'Hydroptère.fr' (as it is now known so as to distinguish the foiling trimaran from the 'Hydroptère.ch' - the prototype lake cat of the same name) rocked up in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. The Hydroptère team's ambition was to take on the Round-the-Isle-of-Wight speed record set by the late Steve Fossett's 110ft maxi-cat 'Playstation' in a time of 2h 33m 55s in November 2001.
Last year Paul Larson, project manager and pilot of rival WSSR-seeking campaign Vestas SailRocket 2 and I followed the indomitable Hydroptère around the Isle of Wight with the aim of capturing a record breaking moment on stills and video. Alas there was not quite enough wind, nor from quite the right direction (NW being ideal to create the minimum of wind shadow on the backside of the island). When the breeze picked up a notch a second attempt was mounted - again to no avail. The margin was close, but no record is no record.
This year, Alain Thébault and his team returned. A crack-of-sparrows start saw the boat off the dock at 4.30am and clock a laptime of 3h 30m. Round two unfortunately had to be aborted at the idea stage, as the morning gave way to windless-ness... Once again, the 50nm course seems to have alluded Hydroptère and so 'Playstation' with her average run of 19.53kts remains the holder-of-record. In the PR schedule, the H.fr have until June 14th to have another stab at the IoW record and we shall keep you posted between now and then.
SeaLaunay's photoshelter has more images of the Hydroptère.fr record attempt
SeaLaunay
Hydroptère
