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ELECTRIC SAILBOAT RACE
Are you interested in racing your sailboat next summer in an electric
sailboat race. The race would start in Santa Barbara and circumnavigate Santa
Cruz Island and then end in Santa Barbara. The racers would be required to
anchor at Santa Cruz island for 36 hours before returning to Santa Barbara.
(Santa Cruz Island is so beautiful it would be a shame not to have some fun over
there) We would find a way to document time in and time out of
anchorage..(perhaps two boat minimums at anchor, or some GPS record...any
ideas???) Racers could go either way around Santa Cruz. Prizes could include
electric boat parts and a great new solar trophy.
Racers would be able to use their electric motors as much as they would like
though their could be a penalty for depleted battery banks. The boats could be
any length, have any size motor, battery bank or solar or wind generation. The
only requirement would be no fossil fuels are allowed for propulsion purposes.
Classes would eventually be formed for like size boats.
The fundamental reason for few rules is to drive the technology to create the
fastest, most practical electric boat.
Imagine the job of the tactician for a moment. Should you use the electric motor
to round a mark? How many batteries will you want on board? Can you afford
Lithium Iron Batteries? If its blowing hard should you keep the sails up and
regenerate? Perhaps a little zero thrust feathering of the propellor on a
downwind leg? Don't forget to tack the solar array to keep the panels facing the
sun.
The race would be intellectually challenging beyond the norm of sailboat racing.
It would be a race that took into account all of the natural energy sources
available, not just the wind on your sails.
I envision a fun regatta of like minded electric boaters. I would like to take
the proposal to the Santa Barbara Yacht Club so they may assign a date for the
regatta sometime in July or August of next year.
Racers with previous experience setting up a race like this would be welcome for
the organization committee. All ideas are welcome. At this stage nothing is
written in stone... just post up your comments and lets plan a great electric
sailboat race!
Please email your interest to me at james@toolboat.com
I will be electric-sailing my Catalina 30, Kapowai and of course will want to
win the race, just like all of the rest of you!
Hope to see you at Santa Cruz Island next summer for the ultimate sailboat race!
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