<H3>SPEED SAILING</H3>
<B><I>L'Hydroptere</I> returns to water and continues to show promise</B><BR>
By PATRICE CARPENTIER<P>

LA TRINITE-SUR-MER, France--Little news has been heard from <B>Alain
Thebault</B> and his 60-foot hydrofoil trimaran <I>l'Hydroptere</I> since a
devastating crash in the summer of '95. Initial trials of the
radical sailing machine proved promising for Thebault's hope of
breaking the outright 24-hour speed record and the Transatlantic
mark, but the project has been on hold while the boat was
strengthened.<P>

During speed trials in the summer of '95, <I>l'Hydroptere</I> was
clocked at a steady 25 knots when its main ama (crossarm) broke.
The crash illustrated to designers and engineers that modifications were needed to increase the safe working load on the ama
and add stability.<P>

The new, stronger ama has helped increase performance potential
by 30 percent. Also, stability was increased by adding two meters
to the ama, increasing overall beam to 25 meters. More importantly, the modifications were completed without adding significant
weight to the hull.<P>

Another problem from early trials lay in the rudder. <I>L'Hydroptere</I>
sails on two retractable lateral foils, mounted on akas on either
side of the ama and angled inward, and a third, inverted T foil
that acts as the rudder. The rudder produced too much drag, and
that has been reduced through modifications to the vertical fin
and the bulb located between the fin and the rudder flap on the
trailing edge.<P>

<I>L'Hydroptere</I> is currently moored in La Trinit&eacute;-sur-Mer Harbor in
South Brittany, on the mouth of the Bay of Quiberon. The Bay's
usually flat water is an excellent platform for a hydrofoil
craft.<P>

Initial trials last fall were promising, and on December 2
<I>l'Hydroptere</I> was clocked at a top speed of 39 knots. The wind was
blowing 25 knots from 130 degrees true, and the wind angle was 50
degrees apparent.<P>

Currently, trials are suspended while a small repair to the ama
is carried out. That will be conducted by employees of
Aerospatiale, France's space institute.<P>

Thebault, however, is happy that the load on the ama never exceeded 70 percent of the safe working load. The crew takes this
to mean they can go even faster, perhaps 45 knots. (The outright
speed record is 46.42 knots, attained in 1993 by the sailing
tripod <I>Yellow Pages Endeavour</I>.) "But our goal is not to break an
instant speed record," said Thebault, repeating that the ultimate
goal is the 24-hour record.<P>

Thebault feels <I>l'Hydroptere</I> can average 30 knots. He and his crew
-- <B>Bertrand</B> and <B>Michel Desjoyeaux</B>, <B>Jean Le Cam</B>, <B>Olivier Wroczinski</B> and <B>Francois Briand</B> -- plan to challenge the outright 24-
hour world speed record, currently 540 miles set by <B>Laurent
Bourgnon</B>, singlehandedly, aboard his 60-foot trimaran <I>Primagaz</I>.<P>

Thebault and crew are scheduled to relaunch <I>l'Hydroptere</I> and
start gearing up for the 24-hour attempt next month. Trials will
continue through March. Then the next step will be an attempt at
the crewed Transatlantic record of 6d:13h:03m (set by <B>Serge
Madec</B>'s <I>Jet Services V</I> in '90) probably next year. Long-term
goals include an attempt at the Transpacific (Los Angeles to
Honolulu) record.<P>