Paul Larsen\u2019s SailRocket 2, which set the 65.45 knot speed sailing record 10 years ago, is to sail again at Weymouth this monthPaul Larsen, who has held the outright speed sailing record for 10 years, has dusted off the record-breaking craft SailRocket 2 and plans to sail again out of Weymouth later this month.<\/p>\n
Larsen set the extraordinary speed record of 65.45 knots average over the 500 metre course in Walvis Bay, Namibia in November 2012. The achievement not only obliterated the existing record, but set a target that no other speed record challenger has neared since (though there are several ambitious new challenges in development hoping to nudge the bar close to an incredible 80 knots!).
\nSailRocket 2 was built in East Cowes but launched in Namibia. It last sailed on 24 November 2012 when, on the third run of the day in 27 knot winds, Larsen piloted SailRocket 2 to her record run, averaging 65.45 knots and hitting a phenomenal top speed of 68.33 knots (78.6 mph).
\n\u00a0
\nCurrent speed record holders Paul Larsen and Vestas Sailrocket 2. Photo: Vestas SailRocket
\nSince then the asymmetric wingsailed speed vessel has been stored in a 40ft container in\u00a0 Weymouth. However, Larsen has dusted it off, re-rigged it, and will be attending Weymouth Speed Week which runs from 15-21 October 2022 at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Centre.
\nLarsen explained: \u201cIt\u2019s been 50 years since the first Weymouth Speed Week was conducted here, that was 1972 and really marked the start of speed sailing. That\u2019s when they said, alright, let\u2019s have an event and start timing all these boats and just how fast people really are.
\n\u201cThose events in the early Speed Weeks went on to inspire lots of people, certainly myself included.\u201d
\n\u201cThis boat [SailRocket] has never sailed on UK waters, certainly never sailed here in Weymouth.\u00a0
\n\u201cIt just seemed right on this 50th anniversary of Speed Week to get the boat out of her 40ft shipping container, set her up and just see. Try to sail this boat \u2013 just once \u2013 down this speed sailing strip over here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given SailRocket\u2019s unique speeds and manoeuvrability issues, it\u2019s not a given that it will be able to launch in busy Portland Harbour \u2013 and it\u2019s certainly unlikely to be hitting any top speeds \u2013 as the boat requires very specific conditions. However, Larsen is keen to have the boat ready to sail and on standby to launch if conditions suit from 15-17 October. It will also give sailing fans the opportunity to see the ground-breaking vessel \u2013 a true piece of sailing history \u2013 for themselves.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re doing everything we can to be ready, so that if the stars do align we can do that right down the course. Even if not, then we\u2019re going to have the boat set up on the apron in front of the National Sailing Centre and we\u2019re going to be here talking to be people, showing the boat, and reminding a whole new generation of people what the boat\u2019s all about and what speed sailing is all about.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll give it our best shot.\u201d
\nSee details of Weymouth Speed Week\u00a02022 at speedsailing.com
\n\u00a0
\nThe post Paul Larsen\u2019s record-breaking SailRocket 2 to sail again: 10 years on appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Paul Larsen\u2019s SailRocket 2, which set the 65.45 knot speed sailing record 10 years ago, is to sail again at Weymouth this monthPaul Larsen, who has held the outright speed sailing record for 10 years, has dusted off the record-breaking … <\/p>\n