UFO? / Virtual Punter

n4rks sent this to try to prove to me he has a boat. and it flys. 

i think it is a rather sketchy photo, like those ones of nessie (teh monster, not teh wife), and ufos and stuff. therefore should be subject to doubt. i am even facing the otherway. and winning for that matter. well jack and steve are sort of in front but that's not the point. 

while not sailing nor working and bored i decided to try maknig a version of virtual spectator in rhino script to prove i can do anything in that program. i think it is the best and at 1k worth every penny. i am rather pleased with the results. rendering of the video needs some improvement but it has a lot of potential, and once i have 2D nailed 3D rendered graphics should be simple. background images were systematically raped from google maps at 5 different zoom levels to make up a matrix of around 20,000 tiles. but that is a different story. 

now i just need some decent GPS tracks. 

Stress Less Refit

While Markla is well underway with boat handling and getting up to speed in his boat, I still don't have a boat of my own. I've been umming and aarring about the viable options; buy second-hand or rebuild an old boat with second-hand gear (already have access to a very narrow shell lying around). Ultimately I would love to buy a new boat and not worry about getting sticky fingers, but I just can't see the value in them for a relative newbie.

Decisions, decisions...

The bare hull shell that was stress less is sitting at Markla's parents place gathering dust and snakes. As part of determining whether it is feasible to rebuild it, I present an early rendering. Current thinking is to move towards socketed beams rather than what's shown. Maybe something similar to whisper but without the freestanding rig, a stump stepped mast perhaps. The stress less hull is very narrow but relatively light so I see no reason it can't be converted to a foiler. It will need some carbon reinforcing from mast to cb case though. The biggest problem is finding a place to do the refit.


Foils are also an issue. Markla has been investigating the design for a home-built set and we've got heaps of ideas for building them relatively easily. More on that later though.

Lots to think about...

Lazy Evening - New Wacky Design!

Just some ideas modelled up on a lazy evening at home...aero drag reduction is the name of the game.

Hull is probably a bit too facetted for some ppls tastes, but I like it. Haven't done any drag or take-off assessment of it but I suspect it won't be a front runner.

Iteration 2 will probably run the aft mast support fairing down the sides instead of to a point for structural reasons. Also considering extending the wings fore and aft with a round tube cantilevered from the plank, maybe some netting between them and the hull for a bit more security! It isn't really practical just yet. There'll even be a bonnet for your lunch and keys and a mount for your GPS!




Anyway, off to Markla's for some boat maintenance and maybe a sail this arvo, weather pending. A freak storm just popped up over Brisbane which has put a dampener on mtb plans. The new alloy gantry was put together yesterday, new mast step and base inserts are ready to be installed, alloy cradle is ready for assembly, and I'm sure there'll be some discussion on the new wand linkage ideas. Watch this space.

(Edited title to be exciting!)