Saw the new Boeing take off for its test run, and Steve Fossett came
to mind. Maybe because they mentioned that Rutan used the Boeing
lightweight materials for his non-stop round-the-world flight.
Anyway, I was reading about him and saw he set the trans-Atlantic
sailing record in 2001, averaging 26 kts.
Since then the French have taken over most the long distance speed
records, but Fossett still has many spots on this record list.
http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/inde...=74&It emid=6
We lost a great American sailor when Fossett died, though I always
remember him for his balloon feats. Guess they got more publicity,
and I wasn't paying much attention to sailing.
This really amazes me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcDXns1W28
Average of 33 kts across the Atlantic.
Top speed 47 knots.
I crossed the Atlantic multiple times on my Navy can - top speed 27
knots, without oversize burner tips, which we never used.
Even then 31 would have been tops. But we normally cruised at 15-20.
I imagine being on the fantail deck and seeing this tri effortlessly
blowing by us in the middle of the Atlantic, moved by the wind alone,
while our turbines screamed as we burned barrels of oil a minute
producing 70k HP.
Bet that would have ****ed off the skipper.
No. On second thought, he would have enjoyed it immensely.
What sailor could do anything but?
I've more than once heard cruisers bitching about French sailors.
Is that because they're the best, or is it the BO?

--Vic