U.K.: REVOLUTIONARY STAGGERED-HULL TWIN-MASTED CRAFT "CROSSBOW II" SETS NEW WORLD SAILING SPEED RECORD.

Record ID: 626792

  • Title: U.K.: REVOLUTIONARY STAGGERED-HULL TWIN-MASTED CRAFT "CROSSBOW II" SETS NEW WORLD SAILING SPEED RECORD.
  • Date: 1st October 1976
  • Summary: 1. TV Boats lined up on Weymouth beach 0.06 2. SV & CU Italian boat Artemide worked on by crew member (2 shots) 0.15 3. LV British boat Icarus being put into water 0.35 4. LV Two-man sail ski board on record run attempt 0.35 5. SV PAN British boat Stampede of Cowes on run 0.45 6. SV PAN Mayfly on run 1.00 7. SV Dutch catamaran Hobie Habit on its run 1.10 8. LV & SV British boat Crossbow II prepares for run (2 shots) 1.23 Initials BB/2315 SPORT: SAILING Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th October 1976 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PORTLAND HARBOUR, DORSET, U.K.
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA3EK7FD7P8E4JNGXRX474G1JEE
  • Story Text: Crossbow II, the revolutionary craft raced by Tim Colman of Britain, set a new world speed sailing record of 31.8 knots at sailing speed trials in Portland Harbour in England on Thursday (30 September).

    SYNOPSIS: The 60-foot (18 metres) twin-masted proa, with staggered hulls, was easily the fastest of the strong line-up of sailing boats from Britain, France, Italy and Holland which took part in the trials.

    The British boat Icarus was a leading contender in the B class with a speed of 20.7 knots.

    These men are competing with a free-sailing system called k-kitty. This was the fifty year of the speed trials, at Portland Harbour. They are sponsored by a tobacco manufacturer and organised by the Royal Yachting Association.

    The Stampede of Cowes won its sail area class award last year with a speed of 16.6 knots -- here on a run over the measured mile. Philip Hansford's British boat Mayfly won its sail area class award with a run last year of 19.4 knots, and took the competition design award.

    The colourful Dutch entry, Hobie Habit, going through its paces. It took part in the very competitive 10 square metre class.

    But undoubtedly the star of the trials was Crossbow Two. The boat was hampered by low winds early in the trials, but on Thursday 23-knot gusts propelled the craft to the new record, which is yet to be ratified. Helmsman coman took the boat over nine recorded runs on the half-kilometre course, breaking the record of 31.09 knots which he set in the first version of Crossbow last year, on the sixth attempt. The new record overwhelmingly confirms the potential of the new design, invented by Rod Macalpine-Downie. Colman claimed that 40 knots was within the reach of the boat. On this particular run Crossbow Two was timed at 25.8 knots.
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