Unlimited Speed Sailing Challenge - Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, England

<body> <p><font face="Arial" size="1">Your web browser needs to be upgraded as it doesn't support frames.  Please visit <a href="http://www.microsoft.com">www.microsoft.com</a> or </font><a href="http://www.netscape.com"><font face="Arial" size="1">www.netscape.com</font></a></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="100%" valign="top" bgcolor="#000080"> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.ussc.co.uk" target="_top"><font size="3" face="Arial"><img src="images/unlimited.gif" border="0" width="130" height="126" alt="Unlimited Speed Sailing Company"></font></a></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="100%"><font size="3" face="Arial" color="#FF0000"><strong>PATRONS</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="andygreen.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">Andy Green OBE</font></a></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial" color="#FF0000"><strong>SPONSORS</strong></font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="bernardmatthews.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">Bernard Matthews</font></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.icalondon.com" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">ICA (London)</font></a></p> <p><a href="http://daytrader.co.uk" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Daytrader.co.uk</font></a></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="pancredit.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">Pancredit</font></a></font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="millsreeve.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">Mills & Reeves</font></a></font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">C4I Ltd</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="sowerbys.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">Sowerbys</font></a></font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="reeve.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">Reeves Flooring</font></a></font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="edp.htm"><font color="#FFFFFF">EDP</font></a></font></p> <p><a href="uksailmakers.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">UK McWilliam</font></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deepdale.net" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">deepdale.net</font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial" color="#FF0000"><strong>SUPPLIERS</strong></font></p> <p><a href="gul.htm" target="pages"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Gul</font></a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td width="100%" valign="top"><a href="http://www.ussc.co.uk" target="_top"><img src="images/frontpage.jpg" border="0" width="415" height="479"></a></td> <td width="100%" valign="top" bgcolor="#FF0000"> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.ussc.co.uk" target="_top"><font face="Arial" size="3"><img src="images/sss.gif" border="0" width="130" height="76" alt="Unlimited Speed Sailing Company"></font></a></p> <table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="100%" align="right"><p align="right"><strong><font face="Arial" size="3" color="#FFFFFF">CONTENTS</font></strong></p> <p align="right"><a href="weather.html"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Weather at Brancaster Staithe</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="storysofar.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">How USSC came about</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="history.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Brief history of the record</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="team.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">The team and volunteers</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="supporters.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">How to become a new sponsor or make a donation</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="sailingschedule.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Sailing schedule</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="newsletter.html" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Newsletter</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="log.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Sailing log</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="diary.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Diary 2000</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="specifications.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Where to find the boat and the racecourse</font></a></p> <p align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Questions & answers</font></p> <p align="right"><a href="craft.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Technical details & modifications</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="picturelibrary.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Pictures</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="contact.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Contact us</font></a></p> <p align="right"><a href="wallpaper.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000080">Wallpapers</font></a></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2">We are delighted that Squadron Leader Andy Green O.B.E. the driver of Thrust SSC and the land speed record holder, has agreed to become our patron.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">As a Norfolkman and the fastest man on earth, we believe there could be no finer patron than Andy Green. His input has been a tremendous boost to the team, and his achievements speak volumes for what can be achieved with the right combination of determination, ingenuity and tenacity. Inspiring stuff!</font> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Bernard Matthews Foods Ltd. began in 1950 with 12 turkey eggs and an incubator in the heart of Norfolk, UK. Although the company's headquarters are still based there, it's business activities stretch into Europe, North America and New Zealand. The growth of Europe's largest integrated turkey producer has arisen from their policy of efficient production and marketing of innovative products. The company produces 13 million turkeys worldwide and production is concentrated in East Anglia, UK; in Germany where the company owns Bartsch, a well-known cooked meats manufacturer; in Hungary where they own SaGa, the leading poultry producer and in New Zealand where they prepare 1.2 million lambs each year. They now employ over 5500 personnel worldwide and 3400 of these are local people to Norfolk, UK. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Bernard Matthews holds the record for the world's largest turkey farm and in an attempt to gain another world record is sponsoring a boat which has been specifically designed to break the speedsailing record. Named "Bootiful" after the company's well-known catch-phrase, the boat is expected to reach speeds in excess of 50 knots. The current record is held by the Yellow Pages "Endeavour" with 46 knots. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">"Speedsailing is one of the most exciting water sports in existence and I believe we have the best team to push it to its limits," says Bernard Matthews. "I really want to see this record broken because, not only is the team from Norfolk, but the record attempt will take place just off the coast of Norfolk - a double for the county." </font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">"We've been breaking barriers in turkey production and product innovation for years, so we are used to getting ahead of the competition." Says Bernard Matthews. "Sailing is one the fastest growing family sports in the UK and, as Bernard Matthews brands have such huge family appeal, we see this sponsorship as the perfect partnership, bringing our key brand values of innovation and excitement to the fore."</font></p> <font face="Arial"> <p align="center"></font><font face="Arial" size="6"><strong>Contact details</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2">Please contact the team on the following</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="4">The Unlimited Speed Sailing Company<br> Brancaster Staithe   King's Lynn    Norfolk   PE31 8BY</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="4">Telephone +44 (0)1485 210951</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="4">Email <a href="mailto:ussc@talk21.com">ussc@talk21.com</a></font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="6">"Bootiful" </font></strong></p> <p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="2">Bootiful is the carbon fibre brainchild of all Simon's experiences, chiefly his genius at designing windsurfers.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">She is a catamaran that uses proven windsurfing technology.<br> Despite her 60ft length she weighs just 750kg, 90 per cent less that a conventional racing catamaran of the same size.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Her two flat bottomed hulls will skim the surface of the water like windsurf boards while another radical aspect of the design is the absence of rudders. The aim is to cut as much weight and water resistance as possible, so Simon and his two crew will steer by moving the mast and sail sited on a x-shaped crossbeam, backwards and forwards along the two hulls. This will be done using pedal power.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">As the boat speeds up it lifts out of the water until it is skating on the very back-end of each hull. Very long, deep fins prevent it moving sideways.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">"The design process has gone full circle," said Simon. "The future for ultimate speed has returned to custom-built catamaran-type craft."</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">The carbon fibre catamaran uses proven windsurfing dynamics, and is designed to cut weight and water resistance. That means no rudder. The crew will steer by moving the mast and sail backwards and forwards along the 60ft flat-bottomed hulls.</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2"><img src="images/steering.gif" WIDTH="500" HEIGHT="87"> </font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">There are two cockpits, one on each hull. Which one is used will depend on the direction of the wind. Two of the crew adjust the hulls using pedal-power. The third member controls the angle of the sail using a winch.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Seen here during sea trials, "Bootiful" has demonstrated during early tests that the record is in sight.<br> Once trials have been completed and the conditions are right all indications are that "Bootiful" will break the magic 50 mph barrier.</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2"><img src="images/bootiful5small.jpg" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="235"></font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="4"><strong>Latest modifications to "Bootiful"</strong></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><br> <br> Over the spring this year we have made several modifications to the boat to make it go faster and be easier to sail.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">The hulls have grown "wings" out of the transoms so that tracks could be moved 400mm further back. This allows the rig to be moved further back so we have greater luffing up power. Last year we could not luff up at all if the sail was sleeted out! It will also allow us to sail with a greater stagger between the hulls so when the leward hull is fully forward the windward hull will be further back. This will make Bootiful plane at a slightly higher angle of attack more bows up. This should produce more lift reducing the wetted hull area hopefully leading to higher speed. The optimum angle of attack is 5º. Last year we were running with less than that. The steering blocks, pulleys and padeyes under the cockpits have had to be moved to accommodate the 400mm rearward movement of the tracks and at the same time we have changed the blocks so that the single blocks have been changed to double on the decks and the singles have been bolted by the padeyes underneath the cockpits. This system will not be used straight away but means if the steering forced required on the pedal winches becomes too high the 2:1 reduction can be changed easily to 4:1 to double the power of the winches.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">We have also removed the "other side" steering winches from the front cockpits to give more room for cameramen, sponsors, yachting correspondents etc.<br> Harken have made us new custom steering cars to move the hulls back and forwards. The old ones had started to corrode badly where the helicoils for the bolts had been taped in. The new ones have more metal round the bolt holes which have been anodised too this time.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">A new halyard lock has been designed, manufactured, tested and then fitted on to the track at the mast head. It uses a stainless steel triangular paw which comes out through a slot in the track to lock the top headboard car in place at the top of the mast track.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Last year the sail constantly slipped down slightly, as the halyard was locked off on the X beam and kept stretching. This lead to to much twist in the sail slack appearing in the luff, the boom end getting close to the water and the bottom batten getting caught on the rear cross stay when we tacked.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">All four stays were tested to destruction over the winter, 3 failing at 2 tonnes and one at 200kg or less! They were supposed to be good for 6 tonnes. Regnart rigging had discovered that PBO our stay material was degraded by normal light as well as ultra violet and needed replacing. Our new stays have black covers. We have also glued 4 strain gauges to the titanium end fittings of each stay so that we can measure the force in each stay with a strain gauge reader when we tighten the lashings. We can also read the tension in one stay while we are sailing.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Other modifications include:- Compasses have been fitted into the two steering winches each side so steering the boat will be easier.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">New stronger stiffer canopy hoops have been made to stop them being broken off. The front boom end has been reinforced as a couple of small cracks were found and a new lightning conductor system has been fitted as the resistance was too high in the old one.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Also we are just about to blow new cockpit canopy bubbles from a tougher plastic to replace the old ones and repaint the crossbeam with new non-slip as it is starting to wear off.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Finally if anyone fancy's helping with the maintenance and modifications of the boat do give us a call as there is always something to be done.</font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="6">The Record and Its History</font></strong></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">The World Speed Sailing Record can be held anywhere in the world by the skipper who establishes  the fastest speed which is ratified in accordance with the IYRU/World Speed Record Council Rules.  The Record shall be established over a minimum of half a kilometer on water.  A timed run is measured from the difference in the times recorded at the crossing of the starting and finishing lines.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">The first recorded World Speed Records were held in Portland on the south coast in 1972. The first record holder was SirTimothy Coleman of Colemans Mustard (Norwich) fame and Lord Lieutenant of the County, skippering Crossbows I and II over a period of 8 years attaining record speeds starting at 26.3K through to 36K. He held onto the record until 1986. </font></p> <div align="center"><center> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Date</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Boat Name</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Skipper/Crew</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Venue</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Speed</font></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1972</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">26.3</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1973</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">29.3</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1975</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">31.1</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1975</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow II</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">31.8</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1977</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow II</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">33.8</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1977</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow II</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">34.4</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1980</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crossbow II</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sir Timothy Coleman</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Portland</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">36.0</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1986</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Board</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Pascal Maka</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sotavento</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">38.86</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1988</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Board</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Erik Beale</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Stes.Maries</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">40.48</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1990</font></td> <td valign="top"> </td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Pascal Maka</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Stes.Maries</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">42.91</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1991</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Board</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Thierry Bielak</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Stes.Maries</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">43.06</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1991</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Board</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Thierry Bielak</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Stes.Maries</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">44.66</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">1993</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Yellowpages</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Simon McKeon</font></td> <td valign="top"><font face="Arial" size="2">Sandy Point</font></td> <td valign="top" align="right"><font face="Arial" size="2">46.52</font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">Information compiled by the IYRU/WSSR Council</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">In 1988 Simon Sanderson shaped the windsurfing board that enabled Erik Beale to beat more than 40 knots.</font></p> <p> </p> </body>