Race yacht stopped for speeding

[JonRB]

Thought this might amuse:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_2116000/2116025.stm

quote:The "fastest yacht in the world" has been stopped for speeding as it returned to London after breaking the 24-hour world speed record.
A police boat caught Tracy Edwards' 110ft catamaran, Maiden II, and its 13-strong crew breaking the eight-knot speed limit on the River Thames on Monday.

Edwards said: "One of them did actually say, `Who do you think you are - Tracy Edwards?'."

They had been travelling at about 10 knots - roughly a quarter of the vessel's top speed, Edwards explained.

"We thought we were being quite conservative."

The crew claimed Maiden II as the "fastest yacht in the world" after covering 694.78 nautical miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 29.8 knots to beat Steve Fosset's record by eight miles.

They will be presented with the EDS 24-Hour World Speed Record trophy later this week.

[mondeoman]

So how many points does she get on her licence for that one?? And WTW are they supposed to do - its powered by wind FCC, not exactly possible to regulate your speed that accurately is it?? Plod with too much time on their hands methinks.....

[Nightmare]

nah - boat patrol...what they HAVE to do surely...same as Plod having to stop you for speeding normally?.....i think that its possible with modern race yachts to moderate the speed as accurately as most cars.....

[mel]

Modern yachts will give both speeds through the water and actual speed these will differ dependant on tides, currents etc. As for moderating speed its as easy as pie you literally "let some wind out you sails" by letting them out and slow down or sheet you sails in so giving a smaller area. How else do you think sailing craft used to come alongside jetty's etc before they had engines if they couldn't slow down ????

As for speed limits on inland water ways to me they actually make more sense than a lot of road speed limits, the reason being the faster a vessel travels the bigger the wake it produces, and the bigger the vessel also the bigger the wake. So in combination if you have a large craft travelling quickly you get a big wake. These waves then cause very real damage to coastal flood defences and cause very real problems to smaller pleasure craft to the degree that they can turn over small dingies etc. In this instance I would suspect that because the vessel was "of interest" a fair amount of people in "small boats" would have taken to the water for a look and would have been put at risk by the wash created. God it's said that I've just posted that shite on PH Helllllllllllp

[kevinday]

Quite right Mel, although on rivers it is a question of erosion of the banks. Hull form also enters the equation, for example a large hydrofoil at 40 knots leaves less wake than a smaller pleasure cruiser at 20 knots, because the hull is lifted out of the water. Here on the Danube we have no speed limit (I think, because we have hydrofoil ferries) but the banks are concreted in most places of importance, also the river is wider so the effect of the wake is reduced by distance.

[nonegreen]

Problem is these bloody sailor types think they are above the law. Now If a powerboat went down the thames at 10 knots the sh1 would really hit the fan. I mean whats the point of a fast sailboat anyway my lethargic cabin cruiser will wind it in

[yum]

Remember that Windermere is about to have a speed limit imposed on it, whioch will stop waterskiing, powerboating and cause a huge loss of income for the Lake District.

It is (or was) the last major lake in England and Wales where there is (was) no speed limit.

www.waf.uk.com

Loch Lomond will follow shortly.

The numpties win again.


>> Edited by yum on Wednesday 10th July 10:44

[nonegreen]

quote:
Remember that Windermere is about to have a speed limit imposed on it, whioch will stop waterskiing, powerboating and cause a huge loss of income for the Lake District.

It is (or was) the last major lake in England and Wales where there is (was) no speed limit.

www.waf.uk.com

Loch Lomond will follow shortly.

The numpties win again.


>> Edited by yum on Wednesday 10th July 10:44

This is great news because the smellies can now fill up the morris minor in their home town stock up with mars bars milk and meusili and head for the lakes to find no-one there. Having had their weekend away spending no money, they will then head home to benefit land. Thus leaving the whole of the lakes to go bust. The farmers can't even make a few quid out of boat strorage any more. Depends on your definition of win but the sooner the economy shows signs of collapsing the better then we can get rid of these idiots.

[kevinday]

quote:
Problem is these bloody sailor types think they are above the law. Now If a powerboat went down the thames at 10 knots the sh1 would really hit the fan. I mean whats the point of a fast sailboat anyway my lethargic cabin cruiser will wind it in

Not that one it wouldn't, it holds the world record for furthest distance in 24 hours, somewhere around 600 miles = 25mph average. Most cabin cruisers manage about 10-18 mph.

[nonegreen]

quote:

quote:
Problem is these bloody sailor types think they are above the law. Now If a powerboat went down the thames at 10 knots the sh1 would really hit the fan. I mean whats the point of a fast sailboat anyway my lethargic cabin cruiser will wind it in

Not that one it wouldn't, it holds the world record for furthest distance in 24 hours, somewhere around 600 miles = 25mph average. Most cabin cruisers manage about 10-18 mph.

Nah 40 knots no problem except the fuel bill!!!