SailRocket update

Paul Larsen brings us up to date with his challenge to break the world speed sailing record

It's been a while between updates but not due to any lack of activity. Rather the opposite. The project has been steaming ahead on all fronts. This Sunday we released the first complete piece of SailRocket that will actually go down the course. I was pretty damn nervous as the 'beam half' released from the female mould - worried that, for some reason, things wouldn't turn out right. But it was perfect and the extra effort required to go down the carbon pre-preg route has been justified with an immaculate lightweight and fair section.

The team have been working hard through the nights pumping out carbon composite test panels which get sent off to SP Systems for testing. This perfects our procedure for the real build. It does not pay to rush some stages.

A weird thing happened when we began carefully laying the first 'skins' of the boat at long last. Call it corny, call it an omen call it what you will...... I personally am not superstitious but I'll just say what we saw..... two white doves flew into the NEG-Micon shed and began nesting. They're still there! It can't be a bad thing.

Some of the help and support we have received has been fantastic. The project is gathering its own momentum as people recognise the team's commitment to the world speed record attempt.



Laser-guided lay-up of the beams uni-directional carbon fibre

Doyle Sails in Southampton and Australia have joined forces to supply the sails for SailRocket using their D4 construction techniques. The importance of getting this aspect right is obvious and we welcome their expertise.

Compotech will supply the carbon mast and spars which will be very highly loaded.

To give you an idea of the power being harnessed by the rig and hence being fed ultimately through the foil, imagine sheeting on a Hobie 16 HARD and then bearing away..... in 50 knots of wind! Now remember that SailRocket itself only weighs as much as a Hobie 16 and will be able to hold this power but will only require one person to do it.

Harken UK will supply all of the hardware while Aerocell in Washington have supplied all the Nomex honeycomb for the construction and spares. It is very expensive material but essential when you aren't looking for compromise.

Gary Davenport at Reitschle Thomas in Kent jumped in and offered us one 'Gucci' little vacuum pump which works tirelessly hour after hour day after day. The vacuum bag which compresses all the layers of carbon and Nomex together is one of the most critical areas of the construction. We like this piece of kit....ALOT!!!

Blakes Paints have offered to give SailRocket its final touches. The ongoing support of the original three, NEG-Micon Rotors, SP Systems/Technologies and Musto has proven to be the core of the whole project.

Sponsors in other key areas are ready to come on board so really we are not wanting for anything major component-wise. SailRocket will be on display in the 'Adventure Zone' at the Southampton Boat Show from 12 September for all to see. We have set ourselves a busy schedule of talks throughout the show to tell the world what we are all about.

Once the show is over, the focus of the project will change. We will need a cash sponsor to take our craft and team 'on the road' in pursuit of those elusive perfect conditions. There will be a period where we will travel to certain locations to check their suitability before deciding on an agenda. We don't expect this record to be easy or quick. The current record hasn't stood for over ten years for nothing. To promise results in a short time would be foolish for all involved and we expect problems to arise of which we are not even aware.

We were cautious in testing and trialing before building. We have built without compromise and pressure with expert support in first class facilities and we will proceed with the same steady and methodical approach until we achieve our goal.

We are after a sponsor who understands this and wants to share in the challenge of taking out this very significant world record.

Sometimes, when I come all red-eyed out of the build shed in the early hours with my head all full of figures and details.... I just shut my eyes, take a deep breath... and imagine the smell of that sea air the day the canopy is popped at the end of the reach of all reaches and I can finally relax.... and wait for the smiling jubilant faces of the team to catch up. I think of how sad it will be when it is all over and it makes me realise how much fun it is here and now in the struggle to make that day real.

Yep, as long as those sexy pieces of perfect carbon keep coming out of that oven, those two white doves can feel free to crap from the rafters to their pure, little hearts content!

Thanks to everyone who has helped and supported us so far.
IT ALL COUNTS.
Paul.