4 ms·

Saddling up on the high seas – the cyclists powering 50-MPH yachts

24 points by nkurz 2y ago

ndsipa_pomu 2y ago
Seems to defy classification - is it yachting, cycling or flying?
philjohn 2y ago
Global Cycling Network on YouTube did a spot on the American team this year ... fascinating stuff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvkx6oF_Zyk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvkx6oF_Zyk
aidos 2y ago
As a kiwi that lived through the Americas cup challenges of the 90s the sport is pretty close to my heart. These boats are amazing and I’ve been following along this year but it’s the first time I’ve found it harder to connect. Now the team and head down cycling it’s hard to feel the same way as when they were running about the boat. I’ve sailed a fair amount and love the sport. I love all the boats, monohull, cat, flying, in the water. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. The technical mastery that has created these machines is off the chart. The fact that with just the right shape, you can harness the breeze like they do just defines belief.
- Kon-Peki 2y ago
  If you like the concept of the current boats but think it’s a bit too extreme, you might enjoy a new(ish) series called SailGP. The upcoming season will have a race in Auckland in January. I went to a race a few years ago and in 15 knot winds the boats were regularly exceeding 50-60 knots. I think one boat managed above 80 knots for a few seconds. Check it out; the course will be set up so it is easily viewable.
  - aidos 2y ago
    I’m based in the uk now so don’t get to Auckland all that often anymore! Have seen quite a few clips of SailGP but am yet to watch a full race. Will give it a bit more of a look.
lexicality 2y ago
The article doesn't do a very good job of explaining what they're actually doing, which is providing power to the pumps on the hydraulic systems that control the sails. Sounds like an absolutely wild bit of engineering, shame so much of it is secret...
- dzhiurgis 2y ago
  Also worth mentioning that having more power allows trimming sails more often which helps adapting to conditions more accurately aka gaining speed.
MarketingJason 2y ago
Interesting. My first thought was "isn't it wind powered? What are they powering?". Turns out anything below the water line like the hydrofoils are independently battery powered. The cyclists are pedaling to pressurize a hydraulic system that is used to trim and adjust the sails as opposed to the teams working hand crank systems to make adjustments directly. I guess I am just surprised they need that much potential energy for the sails-alone. I'd imagine it's a careful balance between building and storing the energy needed for the next series of adjustments without going too-far and exhausting the crew. Based on the focus on increased wattage output and not increasing resistance with constant output, it sounds to me like they are powering a generator for pressurizing a reservoir versus pressurizing the reservoir directly.
- aidos 2y ago
  I believe the power is used to control the wing (sail) and the foils. These boats don’t have a keel and instead rely on foils that they drive into the water. I think they’re adjusted constantly as they fly and they swap from side to side as they tack. Here’s a clip that gives a bit of an idea. https://youtu.be/VQUl_hf6yo8?si=T3kDqScMxsu0krQF https://youtu.be/VQUl_hf6yo8?si=T3kDqScMxsu0krQF
  - MarketingJason 2y ago
    In the video someone else posted, it's said that the hydrofoils are independently powered https://youtu.be/Gvkx6oF_Zyk?si=PXTcckfCQzPZYmrR&t=660 https://youtu.be/Gvkx6oF_Zyk?si=PXTcckfCQzPZYmrR&t=660

24 points by nkurz 2y ago

Seems to defy classification - is it yachting, cycling or flying?

Global Cycling Network on YouTube did a spot on the American team this year ... fascinating stuff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvkx6oF_Zyk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvkx6oF_Zyk

aidos 2y ago

As a kiwi that lived through the Americas cup challenges of the 90s the sport is pretty close to my heart. These boats are amazing and I’ve been following along this year but it’s the first time I’ve found it harder to connect. Now the team and head down cycling it’s hard to feel the same way as when they were running about the boat. I’ve sailed a fair amount and love the sport. I love all the boats, monohull, cat, flying, in the water. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. The technical mastery that has created these machines is off the chart. The fact that with just the right shape, you can harness the breeze like they do just defines belief.

Kon-Peki 2y ago
If you like the concept of the current boats but think it’s a bit too extreme, you might enjoy a new(ish) series called SailGP. The upcoming season will have a race in Auckland in January. I went to a race a few years ago and in 15 knot winds the boats were regularly exceeding 50-60 knots. I think one boat managed above 80 knots for a few seconds. Check it out; the course will be set up so it is easily viewable.
- aidos 2y ago
  I’m based in the uk now so don’t get to Auckland all that often anymore! Have seen quite a few clips of SailGP but am yet to watch a full race. Will give it a bit more of a look.

lexicality 2y ago

The article doesn't do a very good job of explaining what they're actually doing, which is providing power to the pumps on the hydraulic systems that control the sails. Sounds like an absolutely wild bit of engineering, shame so much of it is secret...

dzhiurgis 2y ago
Also worth mentioning that having more power allows trimming sails more often which helps adapting to conditions more accurately aka gaining speed.

MarketingJason 2y ago

Interesting. My first thought was "isn't it wind powered? What are they powering?". Turns out anything below the water line like the hydrofoils are independently battery powered. The cyclists are pedaling to pressurize a hydraulic system that is used to trim and adjust the sails as opposed to the teams working hand crank systems to make adjustments directly. I guess I am just surprised they need that much potential energy for the sails-alone. I'd imagine it's a careful balance between building and storing the energy needed for the next series of adjustments without going too-far and exhausting the crew. Based on the focus on increased wattage output and not increasing resistance with constant output, it sounds to me like they are powering a generator for pressurizing a reservoir versus pressurizing the reservoir directly.

aidos 2y ago
I believe the power is used to control the wing (sail) and the foils. These boats don’t have a keel and instead rely on foils that they drive into the water. I think they’re adjusted constantly as they fly and they swap from side to side as they tack. Here’s a clip that gives a bit of an idea. https://youtu.be/VQUl_hf6yo8?si=T3kDqScMxsu0krQF https://youtu.be/VQUl_hf6yo8?si=T3kDqScMxsu0krQF
- MarketingJason 2y ago
  In the video someone else posted, it's said that the hydrofoils are independently powered https://youtu.be/Gvkx6oF_Zyk?si=PXTcckfCQzPZYmrR&t=660 https://youtu.be/Gvkx6oF_Zyk?si=PXTcckfCQzPZYmrR&t=660