Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Hybrid Catamaran and Hydrofoil Speed Record

One of the major reasons I have become fascinated with Sailing is the fact that I can theoretically get from point A to B without using Fuel. Initially I thought about buying a yacht, but I know I wouldn’t want to take it out due to the huge cost of fuel. Even if I can afford the fuel, it still bugs me to know with each passing mile I am burning expensive fuel not to mention the smell, impact to the environment and the noise. I know someday I can afford the boat, but can I happily afford the maintenance and fuel that it takes to fully enjoy it. This why I get so excited when I read about new technologies that harness the Sun, wind, water etc to help power the craft.

I just heard about the new Island Pilot DSe Hybrid Catamaran. It takes advantage of two hulls rather then one which is a must for me and it runs on solar power. It is a step in the right direction. They claim it can go for 4 hours with 0 emissions at a speed of 7knots. Although that is not fast enough for my taste you can run the generator and go 13knots burning diesel. Still not ideal for me but I know things can only improve. I still like the idea of letting the wind do most of the work. The Island Pilot option would take some of the fun out of it for me.

CNET Car Tech recently reported that the Internal Combustion engine is on the way out, but that batteries are still the weak link. They need to be lighter and more efficient. Apparently the new Chevrolet Volt only has a range of 40 miles. But I am optimistic and look forward to the future. The more products that jump on the bandwagon to reduce our dependence on Oil and do it cleanly that happier we all will be.

Have you seen this yet? For the performance minded sailor you have to check out this You Tube video. The title is Hydrofoil Speed record. The craft is apparently sailing along at 54 Mph. If my French is correct they claim a top speed of 47.2 knots per hour. The hydrofoil is just floating over the waves. It is amazing. The next step is flying. Check it out. Here is the Image Gallery for the craft.

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