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NEWS ET ARTICLES |
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 | |  | |  Catamaran de sport { 20/12/2005 } | |  | |  |
| 28 novembre 2005
 L'aile du tripode MacQuarie Innovation a littéralement explosé dans les derniers mètres du run, lors de sa tentative de battre le record absolu de vitesse à la voile, par Simon McKeon et Tim Dadoo. Ils tentaient de reprendre leur record, détenu pendant plus de 10 ans, avec une performance de 46,50 noeuds, mais qui a été ravi en avril 2005 par le planchiste Finian Maynard, avec un magnifique 48,7 noeuds.
Il ne restait plus du 30 mètres sur les 500 réglementaires pour officialiser le record, quand l'aile s'est disloquée en de très nombreux morceaux sur la plage de Sandy Point. "Je pensais que si nous arrivions en fin de run, nous réaliserions quelque chose de fantastique qui restera dans les annales. C'est alors que j'ai entendu un Big Bang et nous perdions notre puissance. J'ai vu de nombreux morceaux de carbone voler tout autour du bateau".
2004 update - post campaign
15 Novembre 2004
 In summary, the news from our 2004 extended campaign period, has been further frustration, mixed with some glimpses of success...
... and finally capped off with a very high speed crash that resulted in the early withdrawal from our 2004 quest.
On Monday 15th November at ~7:30 pm, Macquarie Innovation commenced her first run in over 5 years in the 20kt winds for which we have waited so patiently. The start to the run was slower than hoped as we were suffering the effects of the growing sand hills adjacent to our take-off area. The GPS trace (see diag 1) shows MI entering the start "gate" at only 37 kts.
 GPS speed trace [red] against wind speed [green] for final run of 2004. Elapsed time [seconds] shown on horizontal axis and speed [knots] shown on vertical axis.
However, from there on, speed began to build steadily and the crew reported that all was well. As MI approached the halfway mark and 47 kts boat speed, the front hull, from which the craft is steered, flew up out of the water causing MI to violently veer away from the sand bank and capsize.
Macquarie Innovation - 47 knots to 0 knots in <3 seconds !
The two crew were unceremoniously ejected from their crew cockpit as it broke up around them. While the damage to the crew pod is extensive, [as can be seen from the photo below and yes, the crew were actually sitting in that !], this aspect is a design feature of the craft. It is a testimony to the effectiveness of this safety feature that, other than being somewhat shaken up, both crew members escaped an 85 km/hr crash unharmed.
 Remnants of MI crew capsule - post crash
Adding to the team's woes, recovery attempts were further hindered by the fact that most of the retrieval work was done in the dark as we were forced to await the low tide for our first run, which was not suitable until 7.30pm
As a result of all the damage to the wing, crew pod and other significant elements of the boat, the team was left with no choice other than to withdraw prematurely from our 2004 program and set to work preparing the boat for a new attempt.
2004 was full of highs and lows with the highs being the continuation of very impressive performances in very marginal conditions. The best of these was a boatspeed in excess of 44kts in only 15knots of wind. Indeed, the speed trace obtained from our Trimble 5700 GPS receivers showed that our speed just prior to the accident described above, was on target to blast through 50 knots for the first time anywhere in the world. MI has potential obvious to all that have been fortunate enough to see her in action and although disappointing not to have achieved our goals this time round, we have had further proof of the fact that we are well on the way to achieving our 50 knot target.
The lows were dominated by the ever present frustration of having to wait for the right weather pattern to prevail. We began our campaign on September 2 and had only managed 3 runs prior to November 15. However, in a first for us, after over 11 years of speed campaigns at Sandy Point, we were on the receiving end of some mindless vandalism that effectively destroyed our main crew beam and put us out of action for over a week. It was incredibly disappointing that someone could feel it necessary to inflict such damage on what represents such uniquely Australian technology, endeavour and achievement on a world class level.
 However, like all great Australian achievements, we have overcome these adversities and are now earnestly rebuilding the damage with the intention of returning faster than ever in the not too distant future. As confirmation of this, we were reminded not long after crashing out, that in February of 1993, Yellow Pages Endeavour, (MI's sister ship) was also badly damaged in a high speed accident, but only 8 months later, went on to post a new world record that lasted for over 11 years - we'll be back !
On the subject of World Records, the entire Macquarie Speed Sailing Team wish to pass on their sincere congratulations to Finian Maynard and his team on their achievement in setting a new World Record of 46.82 kts. This is a monumental effort (especially considering the 50+ knot wind strengths in which they were sailing) and the new mark should not be underestimated - it took 11 years to better our mark of 46.52 with Yellow Pages Endeavour and the new record will be beaten only by an exceptional performance. Finian and his speedsurfing compatriots have well and truly laid down a challenge for the boating fraternity in general to consider. While we had hoped to be able to contribute to this challenge by engaging in some very entertaining high speed "sparing" across almost opposite sides of the world, our untimely demise has meant that this little showdown, will have to wait just a bit longer.
The team would again like to thank all the well wishers who have contacted us throughout our campaign. The support has been overwhelming and certainly has encouraged us to push on to our final goal - now a new world record as well as the 50 knot barrier.
Site : http://www.macquarie.com.au/speedsailing/updates.htm
Sources :
http://www.macquarie.com.au/speedsailing/updates.htm, © Steb Fisher http://www.steb.com.au, Orietta Guerrera |
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