After many setbacks and capsizing, the French Yves Parlier's plans seem to be working to develop a revolutionary cat with two masts and gliding hulls that are modeled on floats on a seaplane. On the transfer of his "Hydraplaneur" from Arcachon in France to Gran Canari, he and his crew sailed 597.9 nautical miles in 24 hours. This is a new record for a boat built according to the rules of the 60-foot multihull class Orm.
So far, the record was 540 miles, but set up one-handed by Frenchman Laurent Bourgnon with the tri "Primagaz" in 1994. Parlier was delighted that the boat was able to prove its potential at the first opportunity: "After the first tests after the conversion, we knew that the Kat is fast, but the record is a surprise. I hope that we will Record attempts from the Canaries in Passat conditions can improve the brand. "
The record is all the more important for Parlier after the project skidded in 2005. The boat proved difficult to sail and not as fast as hoped. Parlier had reckoned with speeds of over 40 knots, which, however, seemed hardly feasible due to the high risk of capsizing of the cat and the massive spray that the planing hulls generate. Then a capsize on a one-handed record attempt that left Parlier seriously injured and the boat badly damaged, nearly stopped the project. But after modifications to the rigs and the so-called "step", an edge about half the length of the hull, the breakthrough may now have been achieved.
Today the team is to come to Gran Canarian It will try to break more records in the next few weeks. More information at www.parlier.org.