Paul Larsen’s record-breaking SailRocket 2 to sail again: 10 years on
, 2022-10-10 02:57:38,
Paul Larsen’s SailRocket 2, which set the 65.45 knot speed sailing record 10 years ago, is to sail again at Weymouth this month
Paul Larsen, who has held the outright speed sailing record for 10 years, has dusted off the record-breaking craft SailRocket 2 and plans to sail again out of Weymouth later this month.
Larsen set the extraordinary speed record of 65.45 knots average over the 500 metre course in Walvis Bay, Namibia in November 2012. The achievement not only obliterated the existing record, but set a target that no other speed record challenger has neared since (though there are several ambitious new challenges in development hoping to nudge the bar close to an incredible 80 knots!).
SailRocket 2 was built in East Cowes but launched in Namibia. It last sailed on 24 November 2012 when, on the third run of the day in 27 knot winds, Larsen piloted SailRocket 2 to her record run, averaging 65.45 knots and hitting a phenomenal top speed of 68.33 knots (78.6 mph).
Current speed record holders Paul Larsen and Vestas Sailrocket 2. Photo: Vestas SailRocket
Since then the asymmetric wingsailed speed vessel has been stored in a 40ft container in Weymouth. However, Larsen has dusted it off, re-rigged it, and will be attending Weymouth Speed Week which runs from 15-21 October 2022 at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Centre.
Larsen explained: “It’s been 50 years since the first Weymouth Speed Week…
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