20 knots...

A long way still to go for Wot Rocket

While still temperamental, Wot Rocket showed a flash of potential yesterday on Botany Bay when it lifted up out of the water, engaging one hydrofoil before nosediving at 20 knots of boat speed.

“Getting it up on the foils is a lay down misere,” believes pilot Sean Langman after the latest test sail which he says was “a huge step in the right direction”.

With Wot Rocket accelerating and rising up out of the water - as it’s designed to do - in the bitterly cold 15-18 knot south westerly breeze, Langman pushed forward on the control stick to stop the bow lifting any further and to level out the ‘flight’. This is when the two joints in the rod that control the tail plane failed.

“I pushed forward on the stick, heard a bang and we fully nosedived. Luckily there’s no audio in the pod because Tac and I were screaming like a couple of kids. We couldn’t see anything outside the pod because of the condensation so we were flying blind,” laughed Langman.

Following minor modifications Wot Rocket’s next appearance will be in a rather different setting - the Sydney International Boat Show.

An invitation from Boat Show organisers was extended and the Wot Rocket project team has embraced the idea of having the 9m carbon fibre sail boat/plane exhibited as a special attraction.

For six days from 31 July to 5 August at the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre, Wot Rocket will be rigged from the ceiling in Hall 2, near the Better Boating Lounge.

“For those who haven’t had a chance to get down to Kurnell for the sea trials it’s a great opportunity to see Wot Rocket before we start official attempts on the 500m world speed sailing record on Botany Bay in August,” Langman said today.

Boating Industry Association marketing and events manager Domenic Genua believes Wot Rocket will generate plenty of interest amongst the 80,000 expected visitors: “ Wot Rocket is a one-of-a-kind radical Australian design and this is a great opportunity to see it up close. Should Sean be successful in his world record attempt next month, Australia will be back on top of the honour roll for the first time since 1993.

“We are delighted that Sean and his crew have agreed to take time out from their sea trials and prior to official attempts commencing to be part of the Boat Show.".