90X90 BMW Oracle trimaran launched

That thing looks like it has zero relative weight when running and may well become a lighter than air craft in a good breeze. Must be one exciting ride.

Tis a thing of beauty. Hmmm, 50 knots on the horizon?

http://www.da-woody.com/DoGDay1/01DoG3970.JPG

Photo of it on a barge. Even out of the water it has a certain beauty to it.

50 knots is much closer than the horizon... Last week Rob Douglas (US) set the new official 500 m record to 49.84 knots while kitesurfing in Namibia. The speed event is being held there lasts for another couple of weeks, so we may well see the longstanding 50-knot barrier crumble.

Actually Frenchman Seb Cattelan made 50.1 knots, but the run was not homologated (I believe because of the minimum waterdepth requirement of 50 cm over the entire length of the course).

Bruno

50 knots on a board! That is one experience that I'd be inclined to pass on.

Yes, that's a bit much for me too. A friend of mine is competing there though. He also uses a foil board for kiteracing (not for speed). Very interesting sight.
My guess is, if boats ever want to get back on top, they'll have to build a mini-hydroptere propelled by a kite.

You can see video of the record run at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh6vcN7gEek

Just to update the facts: The 50 knots barrier has been broken several times in the past few days. The highest average speed over 500 m is now 50.57 knots by French kitesurfer Alexandre Caizergues.

The website of the World Sailing Speed Record Council has yet to be updated.
See http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/historical-list-of-500-metre-records.html.
Recorded top speeds have been over 100 km/h.

By no means would I belittle the attainment of bettering 50 knots on a board.

I'd still like to see that speed achieved using a hull or three. In other words... 50 knots in a sailboat.

More photos at BMW/Oracle
http://www.bmor-photo.com/aff_rech.asp?mode=data&ths=quoi&id_ths_quoi_fr=958&liens=66

question, I have a picture of the boat of my background with only 1 pontoon in the water so does that mean that this boat can flip over or is there so much ballast that it is not possible. It would be a sight to see if it does flip or turtle