Capsize during Sailspeedmaster record attempt - 50kmh gusts - A-Class foiling catamaran

Upwind foiling at about 20 knots (40kmh) boat speed is an adrenaline kick, as apparent winds climb beyond 35 knots (70kmh). Usually the boat remains well manageble However, when 25 knot (50kmh) gusts hammer on the sail and get under the tramp lifting the entire boat, this can get quickly out of control. As I broke my tiller, I could not complete my speed-race. Need to try another time.
Also I need to check out world champion Mischa Heemskerk's technique, who capsized at the A-Class Worlds 2023, and still achieved a great 2nd place, ... and probably didnt break the tiller looking at the picture www.sail-world....
#aclasscatamaran #foiling #capsize #speed #sailing #aclasscatamaran #exploder

[@DrewWithington]

Carbon fibre is so amazing! The catamaran is so light that one normal-sized person can apply enough righting moment to get the capsized catamaran upright again.

[@flyinggorilla]

It really is!

[@dunk856]

So close to saving it! Great shots, you certainly have a great deal of experience and ability, plus a good dose of bravery!

[@mikeruhland6928]

@dunk856 When I first read your comment, I thought it ended with "plus a good dose of brewery!"

[@NevContractor1]

Needs some basic lessons, specifically how/when to let the sheet out.

[@lisspolar7607]

доигрался хер на скрипке... Интересно, с полного оверкиля он сам смог бы его поставить?

[@PDSalling]

After the dump/capsize, your entry/exit from the starboard hull into the water looked a bit reluctant/lackluster. I might have tipped forward and pushed off with my knees, and directed my body into a forward flip, entering the water aft of the boom a small bit, and saved walking on the mainsail. Your harness/ diaper/butt-bucket should have allowed enough slack. Up until you were overpowered, you looked a dashing figure. Almost super-hero like. Regarding potential errors of judgement, a high speed pitchpole is a disaster. Keep fooling around and find out. It will make your little capsize seem like a walk in the park. The catamaran looks stunning. Not sure how shallow waters could accommodate those appendages.

[@EnHestUdenNavn]

Smooth recovery!

[@flyinggorilla]

Yes! Thank you! Only caveat: i broke the tiller extension. you can hear the crack of the carbon tiller extension in the video. I do have replacements of those as it is better to break the tiller extension than the cross-bar or rudder stocks of the boat.

[@skaboa]

Love the videos you make, probably the best A-class videos I seen on KZbin. I just picked up a DNA but have no ideas about controls. Is there any info you can point me to about anything on DNA f1 boats? Also where can I get your 3d printed flying cam mount for GoPro?

[@bendago070]

Can I ask what software you are using to extract gps data from your camera? I presume you’re using a GoPro? I’ve just upgraded to hero 11 but it only shows kph or mph.

[@flyinggorilla]

the spanish company Telemetry overlay has the best software for that. it is affordable and has powerful sync options. simple video overlays are easy. for multi-cam videos i figured exporting the speed overlay with green-screen works best (and use the overlay in the video editor as an additional track). and gopro 11 should work fine, telemetry overlay extracts gps data directly from videos.

[@timseytiger9280]

I was expecting a pitch pole and some flying

[@mjt106]

Excellent 👌

[@Antipodean33]

Whats the reasoning for not getting them higher out of the water like other foiling boats?

[@flyinggorilla]

This boat is super lightweight and only 18ft long and has less than 90kg. So it is a boat that is suited for relatively flat water anyway. You could still use longer foils, but then the drag becomes higher in non-foiling displacement mode. In that mode a foiling A-Cat is already slower than the non-foiling peers, just because of the drag from the longer rudders. The final argument is class regulation that dont allow any longer ones or drastically different shapes like t-foils. hth

[@nobreighner]

Using your mainsheet hand to hold on = capsize. Ask me how I know that.

[@flyinggorilla]

ok, i ask you!

[@nobreighner]

@@flyinggorilla then you can't uncleat the main in time - or at for some reason it did not go out and, of course this has never ever happened to me...

[@flyinggorilla]

​@@nobreighner all good questions. there is no cleat, so it was me hanging on. mischa heemskerk watched the video and suggested more rudder rake, so that the foils dont lose grip that easily, and the wind gust doesnt blow under the tramp lifting it. what we observe is that i tried to tighten the main really hard and simultaneously turn into the wind. however i lost grip on the foils so that maneuver failed. the gust came like a hammer from 10 to 25 knots in a secod. so probably yes, a different reaction, or even better an earlier reaction would be needed.

[@nobreighner]

@@flyinggorilla That is my problem - not reacting fast enough. Going upwind it is amazing how much a cat main depowers with minimal release. Reaching, not any sure options, depending on the boat. Head up and flip. Head down and pitchpole. But the rudders don't seem to work very well just in air.

[@peterdoherty876]

Those foot loops look sketchy. It might be an idea to set them up like straps on a windsurfing board, ie. just wide enough to allow your toes to fit through. Too loose and you’re likely to injure an ankle!

[@flyinggorilla]

yes, I know what you mean. however, i figured the risk of injury is lower if staying attached to the boat vs. making a flight off around the boat while hanging in the trapeze. in fact i took a small injury away during this capsize, but not on the foot in the footstrap. it is the forward foot taking all my body mass and inertia that strained my foot tendons. so while i generally agree with your comment, I feel only safe on this boat when "locked in". thx for watching!

[@peterdoherty876]

@@flyinggorilla Yeah it’s a tricky balance. Had a few similar incidents on the Musto and a board. I’ve always wondered if there isn’t a better solution for footstraps - something that lets go under too much tension etc.

[@Platypus_Warrior]

Those froot loops looks sketchy as well, we don't eat those around here but I feel like I digress