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i, Roboat: AI tries sailing.

i, Roboat: AI tries sailing.

Plus the SP80 goes for 80, and Pollywogs cross the Equator

Ahoy! Welcome aboard all you Pollywogs and Salty Dogs, it’s your weekly roundup of all the interesting and odd in the sailing world and beyond.

In today’s letter:

Speed Demon: SP80 going for 80.
Race Updates: Brits take Taranto, Aussies get tipsy, OGR pirates, Pollywogs cross the Equator.
i, Roboat: AI tries to write about sailing.
Sailing Snippets: Aegean Cargo Sailing, Irish Sea Record, Super Lamp.

a bird, a plane, a boat!

Sailing Speed Record

They’re trying to break the wind powered water speed record of 65.45 knots set by Paul Larson in 2012, and their concept looks like an SR-71 Blackbird with a hydrofoil and a wind surfing kite.

The boat is called the SP80, and is the project of three friends Mayeul van den Broek, Xavier Lepercq, and Benoit Gaudiot. The design is a trimaran with a two man cockpit in the middle, reinforced with Kevlar which won’t shatter like fiberglass in an accident. And a crash is no small risk given the 80 knot barrier they plan to break.

Steering is done by the front seat pilot, while the back seat pilot is in charge of trimming the sail. The sail is essentially a kite surfing wing, and is flown and trimmed in the same manner. To fit within the rules of the record they are trying to break, the boat doesn’t have any computer or battery assisted trimming capabilities. It’s definitely stretching the imagination of what sailing is, but it sure is cool.

The SP80 made an appearance at the Monaco Yacht show this week, stealing attention from all the mega-yachts towering over her. You can read more in depth about the team, the boat, and the challenge on their official site, plus see all the videos and boat diagrams here.

Race Updates

Pen Duick’s Pollywogs

SailGP: The Brits triumphed in Taranto as light winds during Day 2 terminate the race early. That’s after Day 1 winds were gusting over 50km/ph which almost capsized the Aussies on practice day. Check out that video here.

Ocean Globe Race: Outlaw diverts to Dakar after coming across man stranded in a 20’ canoo 90nm off the coast in known pirate waters. Official press release and pictures here. He was then grabbed by a mystery boat that disappeared before the Dakar Navy arrived. Hmmm seems fishy.

Pen Duick VI (FR) is the first to cross the equator, picking up the SE trades and racing ahead. She stands first overall in the race, a few hundred nm ahead of her closest rival.

The crew confirmed they had a fun line crossing ceremony, but are maintaining focus.

Context: The tradition of a line-crossing ceremony dates back to the 16th century, and is a way to initiate sailors who have never crossed the equator before. The ceremony is typically led by sailors who have already crossed the equator, known as Shellbacks, who dress up as King Neptune and his court. The new sailors, known as Pollywogs, are then subjected to a variety of challenges and pranks, which can range from being dunked in a pool of water to being covered in mud or shaving cream.

The specific details of the ceremony vary from ship to ship and from country to country, but some common elements include:

A trial before King Neptune and his court, where the Pollywogs are accused of various crimes, such as trespassing in King Neptune's realm.
A baptism, where the Pollywogs are dunked in a pool of water or doused with buckets of water.
A shaving ceremony, where the Pollywogs are given a symbolic shave to remove their landlubber ways.
A drinking ceremony, where the Pollywogs are forced to drink a concoction of foul-tasting liquids, such as seawater, beer, and raw eggs.

Once the Pollywogs have completed all of the challenges, they are officially welcomed into the Shellback community and are considered to be true sailors.

beep-boop

i, Roboat

AI is writing about sailing now, and the results are…amusing.

A mysterious article was published this week about gardening on boats. Interesting, to be sure, for what cruiser hasn’t thought of some fresh herbs to grace the galley on a long crossing?

Now, I’m just a simple sailor, but I don’t think a human wrote the following:

Benefits of an Onboard Garden

Improving air quality: Having plants on your yacht can naturally help to filter and purify the air, reducing pollutants and providing you with cleaner and fresher air to breathe.

Creating a peaceful ambiance: The presence of plants and greenery can naturally create a calm and tranquil atmosphere on your yacht. It can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation, allowing you to fully enjoy your time on the water.

Enhancing aesthetic appeal: A yacht botanical garden adds beauty and visual appeal to your boat. The lush green foliage and colorful flowers can naturally create a stunning and vibrant onboard environment.

Providing privacy: Strategically placing plants can act as natural barriers, providing privacy from neighboring boats or onlookers. This can give you a sense of seclusion and privacy while you enjoy your time on the yacht.

Yacht Botanical Gardens: Tips for Creating a Floating Flora Haven

It gets better, too. One must consider the implications of climate, so succulents are suggested as a good option for the salty air. Too much sun can be damaging for plants! If your boat gets lots of sun, you must also consider building sun shades on your boat to protect the plants.

So, if one day you see someone watering privacy cacti on their sailboat, the end is nigh. The robots won.

I hate to even give credit to this robot drivel, but if you want something to laugh at, you can read the remarkably silly article here.

Sailing Snippets

🍯 Aegean Cargo Sailing: He sails to tiny greek isles transporting cheese, wine, and honey made by local farmers and craftsmen. Part of a zero-emissions sustainable shipping initiative, the goal is to move goods between islands that have been passed over by traditional shipping, and expand the reach of local goods. Read more about Aegean Cargo Sailing here.

☘️ Irish Sea Sailing Record: Tokyo 2020 silver medallists John Gimson and Anna Burnet claimed a new sailing speed record, sailing from Belfast to Portpatrick in Scotland and back, on a foiling catamaran. They chose the route to highlight the need for sustainable marine transport, and the possibility of commercial electric foiling ferries in the future.

💡Super Lamp: My favorite thing to look for in sailing superyacht listings is the lamps. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m convinced the difference between yachts and superyachts is the bedside lamps. Anyways, here’s the listing for 39m Grace III. She’s a big beautiful classic sloop with an aluminum hull and wooden superstructure, and I counted 5 lamps, so I’m giving her a 5/10 Lamp Score.

Ok that’s it for today, I’ll Ketch you all next week. Don’t forget to water your privacy cacti, ya filthy Pollywogs!

Sincerely,

- A Filthy Pollywog