85 replies to this topic

[KiwiJoker]

The venerable French/Swiss sailing hydrofoil l'Hydroptère will soon be loaded on a ship in France for transport to Los Angeles where she will attempt to set a record sailing to Honolulu.

The spectacular 60-foot foiler has a long and colourful history, including several gnarly accidents during record attempts. . She was launched in '94, following one-third model testing that started in '87.

Now she has just completed sea trials after modifications to make her more forgiving in offshore ocean conditions

l'Hydroptère holds the outright world record for speed under sail over one nautical mile of 50.17 knots, set in November 2009. A year earlier she reached 56.3 knots before going belly up!

Full Pacific record attempt story here. And l'Hydroptère web site here.

So how will this sit with the USCG Eleventh District, still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Low Speed Chase tragedy? Coast Guard has the authority to terminate manifestly unsafe voyages. Seldom used, but it's there.

Will the Coasties simply accept that these guys know what they are doing and let 'em go or wlll they impose conditions? Have overtures already been made? Are the French already planning to post a couple of high-speed "guard boats" between California and Hawaii? Has the French navy already set up joint exercises with the US Navy so they'll have assets on hand? Hey, l'Hydroptère's naming sponsor DCNS designs and builds surface shits and nuclear submarines. They could arrange their own sea trials in the Pacific!

Normally I'd post this in Multihull Anarchy but I think this deserves wider distribution

[Matt B]

The venerable French/Swiss sailing hydrofoil l'Hydroptère will soon be loaded on a ship in France for transport to Los Angeles where she will attempt to set a record sailing to Honolulu.

The spectacular 60-foot foiler has a long and colourful history, including several gnarly accidents during record attempts. . She was launched in '94, following one-third model testing that started in '87.

Now she has just completed sea trials after modifications to make her more forgiving in offshore ocean conditions

l'Hydroptère holds the outright world record for speed under sail over one nautical mile of 50.17 knots, set in November 2009. A year earlier she reached 56.3 knots before going belly up!

Full Pacific record attempt story here. And l'Hydroptère web site here.

So how will this sit with the USCG Eleventh District, still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Low Speed Chase tragedy? Coast Guard has the authority to terminate manifestly unsafe voyages. Seldom used, but it's there.

Will the Coasties simply accept that these guys know what they are doing and let 'em go or wlll they impose conditions? Have overtures already been made? Are the French already planning to post a couple of high-speed "guard boats" between California and Hawaii? Has the French navy already set up joint exercises with the US Navy so they'll have assets on hand? Hey, l'Hydroptère's naming sponsor DCNS designs and builds surface shits and nuclear submarines. They could arrange their own sea trials in the Pacific!

Normally I'd post this in Multihull Anarchy but I think this deserves wider distribution

Why would they care. This is not a sanctioned event that needs Coast gurad permits. It is also Southern CA not Norhtern CA so the ban on ocean racing doesn't even come in to play.
Stupid question.

[Keith]

She should crush the existing record.

[casc27]

The venerable French/Swiss sailing hydrofoil l'Hydroptère will soon be loaded on a ship in France for transport to Los Angeles where she will attempt to set a record sailing to Honolulu.

The spectacular 60-foot foiler has a long and colourful history, including several gnarly accidents during record attempts. . She was launched in '94, following one-third model testing that started in '87.

Now she has just completed sea trials after modifications to make her more forgiving in offshore ocean conditions

l'Hydroptère holds the outright world record for speed under sail over one nautical mile of 50.17 knots, set in November 2009. A year earlier she reached 56.3 knots before going belly up!

Full Pacific record attempt story here. And l'Hydroptère web site here.

So how will this sit with the USCG Eleventh District, still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Low Speed Chase tragedy? Coast Guard has the authority to terminate manifestly unsafe voyages. Seldom used, but it's there.

Will the Coasties simply accept that these guys know what they are doing and let 'em go or wlll they impose conditions? Have overtures already been made? Are the French already planning to post a couple of high-speed "guard boats" between California and Hawaii? Has the French navy already set up joint exercises with the US Navy so they'll have assets on hand? Hey, l'Hydroptère's naming sponsor DCNS designs and builds surface shits and nuclear submarines. They could arrange their own sea trials in the Pacific!

Normally I'd post this in Multihull Anarchy but I think this deserves wider distribution

The USCG won't care. And I don't care about what the USCG thinks about this, either. I just want to see that thing fly!

[GybeSet®]

Why would they care. This is not a sanctioned event that needs Coast gurad permits. It is also Southern CA not Norhtern CA so the ban on ocean racing doesn't even come in to play.
Stupid question.

go easy ! he's an AC Anarchy poster so used to this as is the norm over there ( pure Unfounded Speculation Anarchy it is)

good to post up the Hydroptere attempt though KJ

[KiwiJoker]

Why would they care. This is not a sanctioned event that needs Coast gurad permits. It is also Southern CA not Norhtern CA so the ban on ocean racing doesn't even come in to play.
Stupid question.

Stupid statement.

I never said the French team needs USCG permits. I said, in effect, that by operating in US national waters the French fall under the jurisdiction of the USCG which, in case you don't know it, has some pretty draconian powers to govern stuff they don't like.

I never said the French would be affected directly by the short-term hold in SFO on organized offshore regattas. I referred to potential 11th District Coast Guard sensitivities to sailing accidents. I'm sure you're aware that the 11th is responsible for Arizona, Nevada and Utah in addition to all of California and coastal and offshore waters out to 1,000 miles.

I hope this audacious French bid gets a pat on the back and an attaboy from the Coasties. However unless the French have done some advance planning, I'd need longish odds before committing my cash.

[Keith]

After a few hours in to it, and they will be in international waters any how...

[Matt B]

Why would they care. This is not a sanctioned event that needs Coast gurad permits. It is also Southern CA not Norhtern CA so the ban on ocean racing doesn't even come in to play.
Stupid question.

Stupid statement.

I never said the French team needs USCG permits. I said, in effect, that by operating in US national waters the French fall under the jurisdiction of the USCG which, in case you don't know it, has some pretty draconian powers to govern stuff they don't like.

I never said the French would be affected directly by the short-term hold in SFO on organized offshore regattas. I referred to potential 11th District Coast Guard sensitivities to sailing accidents. I'm sure you're aware that the 11th is responsible for Arizona, Nevada and Utah in addition to all of California and coastal and offshore waters out to 1,000 miles.

I hope this audacious French bid gets a pat on the back and an attaboy from the Coasties. However unless the French have done some advance planning, I'd need longish odds before committing my cash.

I hope you are just being a troll because if not, you are a complete retard.

[Somebody Else]

She should crush the existing record.

You mean "could crush the existing record."
If they are going to do the classic code red, yellow, green holding pattern for a strong system to stabilize, their chances get better. Otherwise it's the luck of the draw.

[gregj1]

Why would they care. This is not a sanctioned event that needs Coast gurad permits. It is also Southern CA not Norhtern CA so the ban on ocean racing doesn't even come in to play.
Stupid question.

Stupid statement.

I never said the French team needs USCG permits. I said, in effect, that by operating in US national waters the French fall under the jurisdiction of the USCG which, in case you don't know it, has some pretty draconian powers to govern stuff they don't like.

I never said the French would be affected directly by the short-term hold in SFO on organized offshore regattas. I referred to potential 11th District Coast Guard sensitivities to sailing accidents. I'm sure you're aware that the 11th is responsible for Arizona, Nevada and Utah in addition to all of California and coastal and offshore waters out to 1,000 miles.

I hope this audacious French bid gets a pat on the back and an attaboy from the Coasties. However unless the French have done some advance planning, I'd need longish odds before committing my cash.

I hope you are just being a troll because if not, you are a complete retard.

working on being do rag, jr?

[e^2]

I worry about the foil trim in pitch (not roll) in the waves. I hope they have some airplane control people involved. Maybe they are big enough that this wont be an issue. Practice vs theory is always a discovery.

My best wishes to the people out there pushing the state of the art.

[casc27]

I worry about the foil trim in pitch (not roll) in the waves. I hope they have some airplane control people involved. Maybe they are big enough that this wont be an issue. Practice vs theory is always a discovery.

My best wishes to the people out there pushing the state of the art.

Thebault &co. have been developing this concept for over 20 years and have engaged plenty of engineering talent in the process. I recall reading something not too long back about changes in the way the rudder foil (if that's what the foil at the back of the bird is called) works. And these guys have spent their share of time at sea and know what that environment is really like. I hope they are successful but I have wondered for years how this monster deals with traversing seas. What happens if it gets airborne? Should be fun to watch...

[KiwiJoker]

I worry about the foil trim in pitch (not roll) in the waves. I hope they have some airplane control people involved. Maybe they are big enough that this wont be an issue. Practice vs theory is always a discovery.

My best wishes to the people out there pushing the state of the art.

Thebault &co. have been developing this concept for over 20 years and have engaged plenty of engineering talent in the process. I recall reading something not too long back about changes in the way the rudder foil (if that's what the foil at the back of the bird is called) works. And these guys have spent their share of time at sea and know what that environment is really like. I hope they are successful but I have wondered for years how this monster deals with traversing seas. What happens if it gets airborne? Should be fun to watch...

The team traces its roots back to early multihull pioneering work with Eric Tabarly. They've got a lot of sea miles behind them, including a record English Channel crossing but everything 'til now has been close to shore bases. I've looked for any reference to being out overnight, or longer, and could find nothing.

The web site has a number of references to the new "rear tail unit" Their sponsoring submarine designer/builder company DCNS has apparently been working on that aspect and they sound pretty happy about it.:

"Another core issue: The control of the rear foil. So far, the adjustment of the rear foil was done manually and was used simply to optimize the boat's average behaviour according to the sea conditions. The hundreds of hours of sailing recorded, analyzed and compared to modelling by the technical team have identified a method for controlling the rear foil to significantly absorb the rolling and pitching of the boat and thus improve her behaviour and her performance offshore. The technical team of engineers charged DCNS with the task of installing the system on the boat to achieve this control."

[Clovis]

"Another core issue: The control of the rear foil. So far, the adjustment of the rear foil was done manually and was used simply to optimize the boat's average behaviour according to the sea conditions. The hundreds of hours of sailing recorded, analyzed and compared to modelling by the technical team have identified a method for controlling the rear foil to significantly absorb the rolling and pitching of the boat and thus improve her behaviour and her performance offshore. The technical team of engineers charged DCNS with the task of installing the system on the boat to achieve this control."

From what i read, the new computer controled rear foil will not be ready for the LA to Hawaii attempt... so they'll still be controling it manually...
in French

C.

[jhc]

You must be kidding.

Tying the L'Hydroptere transpac record attempt, the Low Speed Chase tragedy, and the USCG manifestly unsafe voyage authority into one thread is quite a stretch. You really are a kiwi joker.
...or you have been spending too much time at sa forums.

Possible tie in:
1) L'Hydroptere may run into the west end of Catalina Island with loss of life. (not likely)
2) The combination of three hulls, and hydrofoils, turns out to be more dangerous than a redwood log raft. (risk of starvation)
3) The French decide to abandon (ship), for any reason, get picked up by the USCG, who then bills them for their trouble. (instead of a commercial freighter)(not likely)

My vote is to let the French have a go. Damn the risk, and expense!

[KiwiJoker]

"Another core issue: The control of the rear foil. So far, the adjustment of the rear foil was done manually and was used simply to optimize the boat's average behaviour according to the sea conditions. The hundreds of hours of sailing recorded, analyzed and compared to modelling by the technical team have identified a method for controlling the rear foil to significantly absorb the rolling and pitching of the boat and thus improve her behaviour and her performance offshore. The technical team of engineers charged DCNS with the task of installing the system on the boat to achieve this control."

From what i read, the new computer controled rear foil will not be ready for the LA to Hawaii attempt... so they'll still be controling it manually...
in French

C.

Good find. Thanks. If we're to believe M. Seray, DCNS is working on inertial control of the rear tail unit but it may not be ready for prime time when they make the LAX-Honolulu run. For now it sounds like a joy-stick driving a motorized control.

[DRIFTW00D]

Any bets on her ET. Averaging 38.9? 42.5??? 30??? They would not push it to 50. would they??? Get BP5 to SoCal to see how it should be done.

[jhc]

Try 28.9 knots.

[isma]

Try 28.9 knots.

I like your number, I was thinking somewhere in the 26-28kt range. It will be fun to watch.

[munt]

how much wind does she require to foil? she obviously has a very high top end but I wonder if her averages in mild conditions will be high enough. what is the existing record?

[narecet]

You must be kidding.

Tying the L'Hydroptere transpac record attempt, the Low Speed Chase tragedy, and the USCG manifestly unsafe voyage authority into one thread is quite a stretch. You really are a kiwi joker.
...or you have been spending too much time at sa forums.

Possible tie in:
1) L'Hydroptere may run into the west end of Catalina Island with loss of life. (not likely)
2) The combination of three hulls, and hydrofoils, turns out to be more dangerous than a redwood log raft. (risk of starvation)
3) The French decide to abandon (ship), for any reason, get picked up by the USCG, who then bills them for their trouble. (instead of a commercial freighter)(not likely)

Well, if that tie-in attempt didn't work, I suppose someone could post questions as to whether:

• Hydroptere is made of ferrocement and is poorly maintained
• The crew will eat sprouts and cheese
• Data will be acquired that will be useful for Mars missions
• Anyone involved is a lee-bowing, Cuba-traveling, letters-to-the-editor-writing Communist professor, or
• Anyone involved cannot put together three correct sentences.

However, why a tie-in would be necessary I have no idea, as this seems an outstanding record attempt. Best of outcomes for the team!

[axolotl]

She should crush the existing record.

You mean "could crush the existing record."
If they are going to do the classic code red, yellow, green holding pattern for a strong system to stabilize, their chances get better. Otherwise it's the luck of the draw.

Good first offshore course selection, considering wind direction and sea state. Apparently they're modifying the foils from "absolute speed" mode to "stability in waves" mode.

[bruno]

Ja cques Vincent already scouted it on a Cal 40 a few years back.

[KiwiJoker]

how much wind does she require to foil? she obviously has a very high top end but I wonder if her averages in mild conditions will be high enough. what is the existing record?

Not clear about the minimum wind necessary but she is flying on the foils at 15 knots wind speed and typically doing close to twice wind speed. In her current ocean-going configuration she maxes out at 50 knots.

Team is talking about three days for the passage. That suggests they're expecting a 30 knot average.

The current record is 4 days, 19 hours, 31 min, 37 sec. Distance 2215 miles. Record was set in November, 2005 by Olivier de Kersauson sailing his 90-foot tri Geronimo at an average speed of 19.17 knots

[munt]

by the looks of her she must be quite sluggish when not foiling...

[stranded]

[QUOTE ]
After a few hours in to it, and they will be in international waters any how...

[UNQUOTE ]


the whole world is divided into ASR areas of responsibility


They would need to agree some items with the coasties,



it is all coasties turf



even if they are to be considered to be an international vessel transiting the area

[couchsurfer]

coast guard care?...I imagine they'll be keeping a proper watch,,staying clear of islands,,
,,,,,,and not carrying extra 'weight'

[KiwiJoker]

the whole world is divided into ASR areas of responsibility


They would need to agree some items with the coasties,


it is all coasties turf


even if they are to be considered to be an international vessel transiting the area

That sums it up.

If things turn to jelly half way between LAX and HON, it's the Coasties who will be the Number One responder, even if they are not directly responsible for fishing 'em out. It's not as though they are just sailing through. They are starting their voyage from LAX.

Authorities at the US port of origin are bound to take an interest, especially in a breakthrough beast like this one.

I'm guessing there is enough at stake with the success of the project and with the good of the sponsors name that they'll have a pretty robust safety plan in place. I'm curious to know what that might be.

[narecet]

They are starting their voyage from LAX.

From the airport?

That's peculiar, as it's not on the water, or wasn't when I was there.

[stranded]

narecet / trenace should give the next sock puppet

the name

wanker

[narecet]

Wow, that was a zinger. Thanks for taking the time out of your day. Perhaps there was a single person somewhere that got something out of it, but I doubt it.

Speaking of sock puppets (you should try understanding the definition, by the way) how is it that that post had any effect on you whatsoever?

At any rate, as you may be too dim or ignorant to know, LAX is not an abbreviation for Los Angeles. It is an airport abbreviation only. Those who don't know what they're talking about with regard to America really shouldn't try sounding as if they do. That also very relevant to the entire Coast Guard nonsense being brought up from down under. Why rant on about things in other countries about which you know nothing? We have the sense to not talk about things in your country that we don't know about. You should try using similar sense.

[stranded]

tell me something I do not know

i have to say you also know a lot more than me about something to do with a photographer and the lack of a place in a boat


and while you are at it,


explain why some of the solo around the world people have been fished out from where they were in the southern ocean

and the french rescuing the seppo 16 year old girl



what you say proves you know jack about solas

and that includes some of the uscg obligations


if you do any ocean sailing you need to start your education in that field

when you finish goofing off at your current place of so called education

[narecet]

WTF are you going on about regarding a photographer and a boat, and these other comments that are out of absolutely nowhere with absolutely no relevance whether to me or to this thread?

Are you drunk?

EDIT: Oh. All is plain now. The above poster is another sock of the Australian Ass, to go along with Cassowary Ugly and who knows how many others. And I use the term "sock" in the correct sense of the word, as he still has and is still using his original account as well. Not drunk, but simply carrying on as per his usual. As GS is on Ignore, so now is this alternate account of his, as back-and-forths with this idiot are not worth anyone's time to read or mine to do.

[KiwiJoker]

They are starting their voyage from LAX.

From the airport?

That's peculiar, as it's not on the water, or wasn't when I was there.

Am I missing the point? Perhaps this your best attempt at humor!

Your need for precision is admirable but, why don't you contribute something useful and germane to the discussion.

FWIW, I used LAX as a convenient abbreviation, as many do. And LAX is on the water. Or about as close to it as you could get, short of landing on water.

[narecet]

No, "many" do not call LA "LAX." And that certainly is not more convenient than "LA." That was a trying-to-be-in-the-know mistake, not a matter of convenience.

It's obvious that you were confused by airport codes vs abbreviations for cities, and that's fine because after all it's America and you are not American and so cannot be expected to have so much knowledge of it. However, some are of the mindset that they are open to learning and correcting their error, and some are not. Which are you? The second, it is looking like.

There isn't too much useful to contribute to the discussion with regard to claims that the Hydroptere team needs to seek USCG approval, other than to say that that is just ignorance. Why do this? Would Americans post about what a team doing something between two Australian points would have to do with Australian authorities? Of course not: that would be a stupid thing to do. Leave it to the Australians to talk about that, which we do. You don't know any more about the US Coast Guard than you do about our abbreviations that you try to use, obviously, and are in no better position to argue about approvals needed from American authorities than we would be to argue about approvals needed from Australian authorities. But for some reason, you feel obliged to offer this don't-know-what-you're-talking-about commentary.

I offered the team best wishes. Other than that there is little to comment. I suppose you'd prefer for your errors to be off limits for commentary, but the "LAX" bit and the need-USCG-approval-before-leaving are exactly that, as is your current claim that since the airport is near the water, therefore the race actually is from LAX.

Why not just admit error? On both points.

And no, not my best attempt. Just moderately humorous. However rather than having any humor yourself, or cheerfully correcting your mistake, you seem to be bunkering down with it. Well some are that way. Each will have their own opinion, but so far it seems not many here think much of your ideas regarding supposed need to obtain racing approval from the USCG.

[KiwiJoker]

No, "many" do not call LA "LAX." And that certainly is not more convenient than "LA." That was a trying-to-be-in-the-know mistake, not a matter of convenience.

It's obvious that you were confused by airport codes vs abbreviations for cities, and that's fine because after all it's America and you are not American and so cannot be expected to have so much knowledge of it. However, some are of the mindset that they are open to learning and correcting their error, and some are not. Which are you? The second, it is looking like.

There isn't too much useful to contribute to the discussion with regard to claims that the Hydroptere team needs to seek USCG approval, other than to say that that is just ignorance. Why do this? Would Americans post about what a team doing something between two Australian points would have to do with Australian authorities? Of course not: that would be a stupid thing to do. Leave it to the Australians to talk about that, which we do. You don't know any more about the US Coast Guard than you do about our abbreviations that you try to use, obviously, and are in no better position to argue about approvals needed from American authorities than we would be to argue about approvals needed from Australian authorities. But for some reason, you feel obliged to offer this don't-know-what-you're-talking-about commentary.

I offered the team congratulations. Other than that there is little to comment. I suppose you'd prefer for your errors to be off limits for commentary, but the "LAX" bit and the need-USCG-approval-before-leaving are exactly that, as is your current claim that since the airport is near the water, therefore the race actually is from LAX.

Why not just admit error? On both points.

And no, not my best attempt. Just moderately humorous. However rather than having any humor yourself, or cheerfully correcting your mistake, you seem to be bunkering down with it. Well some are that way. Each will have their own opinion, but so far it seems not many here think much of your ideas regarding supposed need to obtain racing approval from the USCG.

Quite so!

I admit no errors.

I am a US citizen and am fully conversant with US customs and culture.

I'm not going to buy into your shitfight other than to note in passing that you should lighten up on your nationalistic ranting.

[narecet]

Well, there you have it: you admit no errors.

That is much worse than simply making a mistake, which you certainly did on both points.

Ignorance can be corrected with work or by paying attention when people point out what is correct and what is not, but your problem cannot. As you admit no error, despite these being simple matters of fact, your difficulty appears to be to the bone.

And no, my point is not "nationalistic," it has to do with ignorance and some people not being aware that they are commenting ignorantly.

[stranded]

xenophobic is the word your feeble mind cannot reach


and a bit more IT study might help you

[CyberBOB]

Leave it to SA to take something as cool as Hydroptere trying to beat a record and turn it into a shitfight!

Carry on...

[Presuming Ed]

 460768_410296209015840_101861533192644_1177199_373265311_o.jpg   181.79K   148 downloads

[JumpingJax]

[I am a US citizen and am fully conversant with US customs and culture.

Not so much!

When you bill yourself as "KiwiJoker" and identify your location as Auckland, NZ, you seem to be disavowing - or at least hiding - your US citizenship. Evading taxes? Or are you The Great Pretender?

[Left Hook]

Sounds like they're making a stop at Block Island Race Week First!!

http://yachtscoring....?Yacht_ID=27922

[KiwiJoker]

[I am a US citizen and am fully conversant with US customs and culture.

Not so much!

When you bill yourself as "KiwiJoker" and identify your location as Auckland, NZ, you seem to be disavowing - or at least hiding - your US citizenship. Evading taxes? Or are you The Great Pretender?

Look, this thread is about l'hydroptere, not me.

I was under the impression that full disclosure was not a requirement for SA. At least I choose to display my current hailing port. Most members here don't even do that.

The citizenship of most people is an accident, if you will, of birth. It's a rare privilege to choose to become a citizen

[jc172528]

She should crush the existing record.

She should might crush the existing record.

Attached Files

•  hydroptere-crash2.jpg   24.36K   63 downloads

[KiwiJoker]

 460768_410296209015840_101861533192644_1177199_373265311_o.jpg   181.79K   148 downloads

Thanks. I hope this is not her chosen resting place on board. Seems a little vulnerable to wave action.

From the website:

TUESDAY, 29 MAI 2012
En route to the city of angels!

After three weeks of testing in the Mediterranean, the Hydrofoil DCNS Alain Thebault was loaded onto a cargo ship on Monday inToulon. Towards Los Angeles, where "flying boat" will be positioned on standby weather for a record attempt of crossing the Pacific.

[KiwiJoker]

Nice post in sail-world.com/australia with the latest news and photos from the L'Hydroptere site.

Not mentioned before, they will be doing night sailing trials as part of their training and testing.

[facthunt]

No, "many" do not call LA "LAX." And that certainly is not more convenient than "LA." That was a trying-to-be-in-the-know mistake, not a matter of convenience.

It's obvious that you were confused by airport codes vs abbreviations for cities, and that's fine because after all it's America and you are not American and so cannot be expected to have so much knowledge of it. However, some are of the mindset that they are open to learning and correcting their error, and some are not. Which are you? The second, it is looking like.

There isn't too much useful to contribute to the discussion with regard to claims that the Hydroptere team needs to seek USCG approval, other than to say that that is just ignorance. Why do this? Would Americans post about what a team doing something between two Australian points would have to do with Australian authorities? Of course not: that would be a stupid thing to do. Leave it to the Australians to talk about that, which we do. You don't know any more about the US Coast Guard than you do about our abbreviations that you try to use, obviously, and are in no better position to argue about approvals needed from American authorities than we would be to argue about approvals needed from Australian authorities. But for some reason, you feel obliged to offer this don't-know-what-you're-talking-about commentary.

I offered the team best wishes. Other than that there is little to comment. I suppose you'd prefer for your errors to be off limits for commentary, but the "LAX" bit and the need-USCG-approval-before-leaving are exactly that, as is your current claim that since the airport is near the water, therefore the race actually is from LAX.

Why not just admit error? On both points.

And no, not my best attempt. Just moderately humorous. However rather than having any humor yourself, or cheerfully correcting your mistake, you seem to be bunkering down with it. Well some are that way. Each will have their own opinion, but so far it seems not many here think much of your ideas regarding supposed need to obtain racing approval from the USCG.

they will never break any records if they included the time clearing LAX, best shave the beards before leaving home.

[Keith]

She should crush the existing record.

She should might crush the existing record.

Here's a better look at her, right side up....... and moving fast......

[yl75]

Hey didn't know about this attempt !

How often do you get a weather window without any "hole" in between LA and Hawaï ?

I lived in SoCal for a while (1 year) but almost never saw wind there, when such a window exists, how is the wind starting from LA ?

Also what angle do the trade give along the route ?

[yl75]

By the way the hydroptère just crossed Panama, now in the pacific :
http://hydroptere.co.../news-in-brief/

[Fat Point Jack]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

[Left Hook]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because sailing it to the other side of the world isn't just your routing delivery... for a 4ktsb let alone a highly tuned racing trimaran...

[Fat Point Jack]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because sailing it to the other side of the world isn't just your routing delivery... for a 4ktsb let alone a highly tuned racing trimaran...

Is a Pacific record better than an Atlantic record?

[Left Hook]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because sailing it to the other side of the world isn't just your routing delivery... for a 4ktsb let alone a highly tuned racing trimaran...

Is a Pacific record better than an Atlantic record?

Let me answer your question again.

Because it's a bad idea!

[DoRag]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

[Drewbius]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Uhhh... You really have a problem with people who want to bring their state-of-the-art technology to the states, presumably purchase stuff from us along the way? That, sir, is un-American.

If we're anything, we're capitalists. Troll.

[DoRag]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Uhhh... You really have a problem with people who want to bring their state-of-the-art technology to the states, presumably purchase stuff from us along the way? That, sir, is un-American.

If we're anything, we're capitalists. Troll.

You're forgetting that they are coming here on a Federal grant. Hence, the taxpayers are paying for this joyride. Me? I object!

[yl75]

The "iconic" record accross the Atlantic is the West East NYC Ambrose light lizard point one, in fact looking at the WSSRC passage records page, there is no East West trade winds passage record listed :

http://www.sailspeed...ge-records.html

And if there was one not sure where it should start (and end), Canary Islands to some carribean island ? As for the East West transats starting in Europe, always a tricky part to join the trades.

Plus for this boat on offshore record, I guess having a near perfect weather window and ride is key, without a two rough one, so trade winds highly preferable over riding a low in the North Atlantic.

Also for media coverage the record needs to be iconic, which leads me to the previous question, how common is it to have a weather window whithout any hole in between LA and Hawaï ?

You use a Santa Ana wind period that links directly to the trades ?

[Asymptote]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Uhhh... You really have a problem with people who want to bring their state-of-the-art technology to the states, presumably purchase stuff from us along the way? That, sir, is un-American.

If we're anything, we're capitalists. Troll.

You're forgetting that they are coming here on a Federal grant. Hence, the taxpayers are paying for this joyride. Me? I object!

You find no value in bringing technological information about the most advanced high-speed ocean-going foiling capabilities to the US?

No possible military value? No commercial transportation value? Just want to keep your head in the sand?

We just saw a trimaran sail around the world faster than any military vessel could match. Now we have an ocean-going sailboat that can achieve speeds that are unmatched without the use of an engine. Nope, can't see why the Feds (and us as citizens) wouldn't want to know about that.

Darned French. Let's go back to eating our "Freedom fries", those things were tasty!

[I'moutahere]

Would there not be some concern about hitting some of the stuff drifting across from the Tsunami in Japan? Wouldn't take much to knock out a foil.

[SailDaddy]

Where do they sleep? Where do they eat? How do they go to the bathroom? Accomodations must be a bit sparce. Maybe then can just hold it for 3 days.

The pic on the barge makes it look like the tin can. Any of you give them any money?

Anyway looks very cool. Maybe I will buy that Weta and add my old snowboards under it.

[Keith]

Would there not be some concern about hitting some of the stuff drifting across from the Tsunami in Japan? Wouldn't take much to knock out a foil.

I would think the odds of hitting debris, has to be much higher now, than its ever been. Although there may be less stuff floating south and more stuff floating north...

So far we have had big dock in Oregon, and a container with a Harley in it, as far north as Haida Gwaii, and a fishing boat north of that....

[DoRag]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Uhhh... You really have a problem with people who want to bring their state-of-the-art technology to the states, presumably purchase stuff from us along the way? That, sir, is un-American.

If we're anything, we're capitalists. Troll.

You're forgetting that they are coming here on a Federal grant. Hence, the taxpayers are paying for this joyride. Me? I object!

You find no value in bringing technological information about the most advanced high-speed ocean-going foiling capabilities to the US?

No possible military value? No commercial transportation value? Just want to keep your head in the sand?

We just saw a trimaran sail around the world faster than any military vessel could match. Now we have an ocean-going sailboat that can achieve speeds that are unmatched without the use of an engine. Nope, can't see why the Feds (and us as citizens) wouldn't want to know about that.

Darned French. Let's go back to eating our "Freedom fries", those things were tasty!

Our Navy is not interested in sailing boats. Our foil technology, from nuke subs through the most advanced aircraft the world has ever seen, is unsurpassed.

Now, be serious.

[yl75]

how common is it to have a weather window whithout any hole in between LA and Hawaï ?

You use a Santa Ana wind period that links directly to the trades ?

Nobody will answer my question ?

[DryArmour]

how common is it to have a weather window whithout any hole in between LA and Hawaï ?

You use a Santa Ana wind period that links directly to the trades ?

Nobody will answer my question ?

Ideally you will get a 1040+MB high over the North Pacific that hangs together for a 72-96 hour period. It retrogrades West with you as you march to the WSW. Not unheard of.

[yl75]

Thanks !

What kind of wind force and direction does this create at the start in Los Angeles ?

But in fact looking at this for instance :


http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/derelic_fish_gear.php

Even if there is a band along the coast without much wind, it usually starts quite early offshore ?

[cap10ed]

Kinda like this one was going to crush a record. At least it didn't sink. That's the advantage of losing the lead..

She should crush the existing record.

She should might crush the existing record.

[KiwiJoker]

The ship transporting L'Hydroptere reached Los Angeles on 5th July.

"To ensure l’Hydroptère DCNS has every chance of success, a team of engineers from DCNS is in Los Angeles working on the servo-control system for the aft stabiliser and completing the optimisation with a view to setting off on the record attempt."

[KiwiJoker]

L'Hydroptere is now fitting out at Cabrillo Beach Marina in San Pedro. Nice gallery of FB pix for viewing here.

Attached Files

•  L\'hydroptere fitout.jpg   33.63K   36 downloads

[KiwiJoker]

This is the one I've been waiting for. It's the first of a two-parter.

Kim Livingston has been out on l'hydroptere for a first-hand experience.

He clocked a personal best, while driving, of 34 knots.

http://blueplanettimes.com/?p=9392

"I stand in awe at the steel balls it takes to aim at the open ocean with l’Hydroptere, a machine that holds the nautical mile record at 50+ knots, with no expectation of hitting 50 on the way to Diamond Head but every expectation (or hope) of being there in three days. She feels very stable at 25, 30, 35 knots. Beyond 45, the boys tell me, “it’s different.”"

[DRIFTW00D]

how common is it to have a weather window whithout any hole in between LA and Hawaï ?

You use a Santa Ana wind period that links directly to the trades ?

Nobody will answer my question ?

They got something in a bag that will keep her going n a HOLE. Did they just add that?

[hobot]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Uhhh... You really have a problem with people who want to bring their state-of-the-art technology to the states, presumably purchase stuff from us along the way? That, sir, is un-American.

If we're anything, we're capitalists. Troll.

You're forgetting that they are coming here on a Federal grant. Hence, the taxpayers are paying for this joyride. Me? I object!

You find no value in bringing technological information about the most advanced high-speed ocean-going foiling capabilities to the US?

No possible military value? No commercial transportation value? Just want to keep your head in the sand?

We just saw a trimaran sail around the world faster than any military vessel could match. Now we have an ocean-going sailboat that can achieve speeds that are unmatched without the use of an engine. Nope, can't see why the Feds (and us as citizens) wouldn't want to know about that.

Darned French. Let's go back to eating our "Freedom fries", those things were tasty!

Can't remember, was it catsup or ketchup they served with those?

[PeterHuston]

This is the one I've been waiting for. It's the first of a two-parter.

Kim Livingston has been out on l'hydroptere for a first-hand experience.

He clocked a personal best, while driving, of 34 knots.

http://blueplanettimes.com/?p=9392

"I stand in awe at the steel balls it takes to aim at the open ocean with l'Hydroptere, a machine that holds the nautical mile record at 50+ knots, with no expectation of hitting 50 on the way to Diamond Head but every expectation (or hope) of being there in three days. She feels very stable at 25, 30, 35 knots. Beyond 45, the boys tell me, "it's different.""

I was at Gladstone's with Sangmeister two days before they did this adventure. This boat just quivers at the dock, waiting to be unleashed. This boat and USA 17 are the two coolest boats on the planet, different in the way they make their statements, equally impressive for different reasons.

[DRIFTW00D]

[gimmee]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Well you had to ask the Aussies to build you their aluminium 45 knot littoral combat vessels. Why, Austal even opened a shipyard in Alabama so you could share their technology !

[whispers]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Well you had to ask the Aussies to build you their aluminium 45 knot littoral combat vessels. Why, Austal even opened a shipyard in Alabama so you could share their technology !

leave the ignorant dorag alone, he can hide in his basement and pop out one day to realise the good ol usa has been purchased by china, then the will be screwed the ignorant little fuck

[Pokey uh da LBC]

What's the current status of the record attempt? If the boat's still in town, where can it be seen?

[PeterHuston]

What's the current status of the record attempt? If the boat's still in town, where can it be seen?

If they had departed, we'd know.

I was at the boat last week - Gladstone's in Long Beach. Have a /drink/meal there - awesome place.

[Innocent Bystander]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Well you had to ask the Aussies to build you their aluminium 45 knot littoral combat vessels. Why, Austal even opened a shipyard in Alabama so you could share their technology !

Not many folks consider that successful. GAO audit report here

[KiwiJoker]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Well you had to ask the Aussies to build you their aluminium 45 knot littoral combat vessels. Why, Austal even opened a shipyard in Alabama so you could share their technology !

Not many folks consider that successful. GAO audit report here

Thanks for the 91-page report. Still digesting it. Seems the US Navy's fairly happy with the game-changing littoral program despite initial problems and negative press reports.

The Lockheed steel hull vessel seems to have the most serious issues - hull cracking, engines ingesting water.

The General Dynamics/Austal alloy tri has what sounds like fairly major galvanic problems, but apparently addressable.

[Innocent Bystander]

When you have a perfectly good ocean not too far away, why would you load the boat on a ship and send it to the otherside of the world?

Because our failed immigration policies would allow it.....?

Well you had to ask the Aussies to build you their aluminium 45 knot littoral combat vessels. Why, Austal even opened a shipyard in Alabama so you could share their technology !

Not many folks consider that successful. GAO audit report here

Thanks for the 91-page report. Still digesting it. Seems the US Navy's fairly happy with the game-changing littoral program despite initial problems and negative press reports.

The Lockheed steel hull vessel seems to have the most serious issues - hull cracking, engines ingesting water.

The General Dynamics/Austal alloy tri has what sounds like fairly major galvanic problems, but apparently addressable.

Certainly the concept has its supporters as a lower cost force multiplier, particularly those running the program are true believers. From a capability/cost perspective, it has plenty of detractors inside and outside the navy. My point it Austral's fast ferry concepts ran into very serious and life limiting galvanic corrosion issues when loaded up with military electronics, sensors and weapons. Program has been slowed down and restructured repeatedly.

I participated in some of the early manpower and "modularized capability" discussions early in the program. Let's just say a lot of the program constraints were not grounded in or backed by real science and meeting those in a low cost prototype build challenged both GD/Austral and LM pretty significantly. Neither ship came in anywhere close to on cost and both experienced technical and structural issues.

[schakel]

The venerable French/Swiss sailing hydrofoil l'Hydroptère will soon be loaded on a ship in France for transport to Los Angeles where she will attempt to set a record sailing to Honolulu.

The spectacular 60-foot foiler has a long and colourful history, including several gnarly accidents during record attempts. . She was launched in '94, following one-third model testing that started in '87.

Now she has just completed sea trials after modifications to make her more forgiving in offshore ocean conditions

l'Hydroptère holds the outright world record for speed under sail over one nautical mile of 50.17 knots, set in November 2009. A year earlier she reached 56.3 knots before going belly up!

Full Pacific record attempt story here. And l'Hydroptère web site here.

So how will this sit with the USCG Eleventh District, still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Low Speed Chase tragedy? Coast Guard has the authority to terminate manifestly unsafe voyages. Seldom used, but it's there.

Will the Coasties simply accept that these guys know what they are doing and let 'em go or wlll they impose conditions? Have overtures already been made? Are the French already planning to post a couple of high-speed "guard boats" between California and Hawaii? Has the French navy already set up joint exercises with the US Navy so they'll have assets on hand? Hey, l'Hydroptère's naming sponsor DCNS designs and builds surface shits and nuclear submarines. They could arrange their own sea trials in the Pacific!

Normally I'd post this in Multihull Anarchy but I think this deserves wider distribution

USCG should forbide the new AC 72 racing.
Happens only when it's to late I think.

[Guitar]

Dixie just reported she is in SF as of last night?

Up for the AC races or to launch from for the record?

[KiwiJoker]

Dixie just reported she is in SF as of last night?

Up for the AC races or to launch from for the record?

Interesting!

I believe the specific record they are chasing, and seeking to break, is Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Seems they are taking a few days off to make a flying visit to San Francisco to check out the AC action.

[K38BOB]

Dixie just reported she is in SF as of last night?

Up for the AC races or to launch from for the record?

Interesting!

I believe the specific record they are chasing, and seeking to break, is Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Seems they are taking a few days off to make a flying visit to San Francisco to check out the AC action.

Some nice photo ops with the bridge. On standby and will blast down to Pt Fermin to start for the record when appropriate weather

[pogen]

They should have gone in early July, when the SHTP was running -- sad to say they have probably missed their window for the season.