meant it was over. We had been denied. We kept on
trying until the bitter end. We sailed the next day just in
case and managed to squeeze off our 100th run down
‘speed-spot’ after dark. I was aware that for all we
knew it might well be the last time that we would ever
sail that wonderful boat. The cost and effort in sailing
her has escalated since those free and easy early days
in Weymouth. Every time she goes out now it is with a
focus on a world record and the cost of that is bordering
on prohibitive.
I had a few days to reflect on the past two months and
how it might impact the future as we packed up camp.
The fact is that she as at a level now where only the
After the 100th run
best, top-end conditions will do. We are becoming very
competition can be very motivating to your own project and
picky. Conditions that we previously thought were great
this is quite often the reason for others following shortly after.
we now eye critically. In speed sailing terms relative to
They had already wrested the laurels of the world’s fastest
achieving real success, we have grown up. There is
‘boat’ of us in Mid December so the 50 knot thing wasn’t
a lot to consider about where the future lies. On one
that big a deal as this was just more of the same. I take my
hand it would be a crying shame to develop VESTAS
hats off to them as they ended up doing the run in 24 knots
SAILROCKET up to this level only to stop sailing her
of wind. Conditions I always thought they would struggle
when the summit seems so close. On the other hand, as
with.
I have mentioned, she is no teenager and is getting very
costly and complicated to campaign. Maybe it’s time we
It took us a few days to dial VSR up
look further down the track and put all our resource into
to speed and do all the necessary
another boat. She has come a long way and currently
checks. We did some more nautical
sits here as the 2nd fastest boat in the world. She should
mile runs all of which were over 40
be considered as a Mk 1 prototype to test a concept
knots. One of the runs was a 42.09
and I honestly think that she has done this brilliantly. We
knot run which was exactly 1 knot
have learnt so much along the way. When we started
under the record!!! We were now
this project in earnest 8 years ago, we had so little to go
seeing troubles with the conditions.
on. Now... now we really know what we want and how
The wind was too patchy. Wind-wise
to get it. We have all the pieces already in place including
the course had holes in it. I called it a
a fully packed operations base, a brilliant location, along
‘Swiss’ wind. Some days we would
with a team of sponsors, supporters and highly skilled
The team was ably
see gusts of 25 knots and lows of 18.
individuals that have shown they have what it takes. So
assisted by UK
recruits Nick Bubb
It was the lulls that killed the average.
yes, we need to look to the future. One thing is definite in
and Alex Adams
We started the 42.09 knot run in a
my mind...whether it’s this boat or another one... second
(above) who lull and the slow start-up time was
fastest isn’t fast enough... and there is no way I’m going
worked tirelessly
carried all the way down the course.
to stop until we are Number 1 outright. That last session
to get Vestas
Despite peak speeds over 47 knots...
was frustrating as hell... but it was just a chapter. Speed-
SailRocket back
we had lows of 38. In the end we did
sailing forces patience upon you whether you like it or
on the water just
5 runs over 40 knots but still couldn’t
not.
12 days after her
major ‘event’
beat the record. It was more elusive
than I thought. Nailing high averages
We will do whatever it takes one way or another. Count
is the name of the game. Even to do
on it. Cheers, Paul.
a 50 knot 500 metre average usually requires speeds over
54-5 knots somewhere along the course... and these peaks
are the ones that bring you unstuck. Hydroptere is a classic
example of a boat that can hit high peaks... but struggles
with high averages due to its unsteady nature.
So as our time ran out and the forecast strong winds kept
moving away ahead of us like mirages, we put all our hopes
on one last forecast. Winds of 26 knots were predicted on
our second last day. We extended the record period to cover
it. It was going to be shit-or-bust. VESTAS SAILROCKET
was sailing beautifully and I felt I had her in the palm of my
hand. We did all we could when the day came but it was a
Swiss wind once more and one that took all day to swing
into the right direction. As I sat in the failing light and watched
The team – without Paul and Helena in the rib. From Left - Mike
the TACKTICK wind instruments at the timing hut... I knew
Ellison (WSSRC official), Hiskia Sindimba, Sophie Moore, Alex
what the low sub-20 knot readings represented. They
Adams, Helen Rollinson, Nick Bubb
38  MULTIHULL REVIEW : JUNE 2009
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