High-speed training sessions for l'Hydroptere
'l’Hydroptere at speed'
l'Hydropt?re was put back in the water on Monday 29th September after a complete check-up at La Ciotat. The boat was taken directly to her speed base at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rh?ne to resume her training sessions.
After the summer sailing sessions, l'Hydropt?re was placed in dry dock. Every centimetre of the boat was carefully verified. The central hull and the floaters were streamlined, the foils optimized, and the sails were reinforced by Incidence in Brest. Studies conducted by the scientific teams and the conclusions reached by the crew after sailing sessions were a leading factor in these works. Alain Th?bault: 'l'Hydropt?re is a scientific project, a research project, but the impressions of the sailors are a very important element. It is only at sea that we can understand how the boat behaves, and the crew's input completes the studies. You cannot have one without the other.'
After launching, the mast was tilted to increase the strength of the sails and the rigging's potential. The runs on the speed base at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rh?ne are made on a beam reach, so the crew specifically configured the rigging for runs on starboard tack.
The WSSRC officially re-opened the spot on 30th September. Since then, l'Hydropt?re has resumed her training for the absolute sailing speed record, recently established at 49.84 knots by the American kitesurfer, Rob Douglas.
This performance has only served to strengthen the motivation of Alain Th?bault and his crew, who hope to take on the challenge of 50 knots very soon, and who are eagerly watching the weather conditions.
This week the wind conditions were pretty favourable, but the swell formed by the west winds made it impossible to go to the speed base at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rh?ne. Therefore, l'Hydropt?re trained in the bay of Fos sur Mer. During these training sessions, Alain Th?bault and his crew brought the boat's record speed from 47.6 to 52.86 knots. This recording is from the official Trimble measurement system, required by the WSSRC.
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by l'Hydropt?re media 
Mermaid Waters, QLD
