Welcome to Tetrahedron Racing
We are on a Quest to Break the World Speed Record in Sailing!!!
Our Team is on a quest to break the world speed record in sailing with a boat that can sail in any direction, unlike the current record holder. A tetrahedron is the strongest structure known to man, therefore it can be made into the lightest possible boat. With sail power on every pole, we will have the highest power to weight ratio of any boat. With this technology as our starting point, we will optimize every component for speed. Records are meant to be broken and we are going to prove there is a faster way to sail!!
Announcement: Speed Testing Begins Spring 2021
Team News
The speed boat is on the water!
Last week we got the boat together and on the water for the first time. The first three trips around the lake we fun and very informative. We are now making a few improvements and hope to get back out there by the end of this week.
Team Members:
About Tetrahedron Racing
A tetrahedron is the strongest structure known to man. Because it’s a pyramid of triangles there is no flexibility in any direction. With a sail on each of the 3 masts this boat design will have the highest sail power to weight ratio of any boat ever before in existence, at least once it’s made out of carbon fiber.
The added benefit of this design is the balancing effect of the front two sails. The two jibs counter the tipping force of the top of the main sail. The windward jib holds the boat down while providing forward thrust. The downwind jib picks up on the boat while providing forward thrust. This is opposite to the force vectors of the main sail. This will make the boat more stable and ride flat to the water.
The flying boom allows the main sail to be better optimized for wind speed and direction. The T handle at the bottom of the boom will allow tensioning of the main sail to be possible separately from sails twist. This will allow the pilot of the boat to align the sail to better catch the wind for more forward thrust and less tipping force on the boat.
The surfboards keep the boat afloat at low-speed. Below the surfboards are hydrofoils that will pick the boat up out of the water, in order to reduce the water drag of the surfboards significantly. The hydrofoils will be actively controlled to maintain a specific ride height above the water. This will keep all three hydrofoils submerged for better control and maintain a level boat. Keeping all three hydrofoils in the water will make steering the boat easier.
Getting to maximum forward thrust is the reason for the unique sail design. Separate from the unique sail layout on the tetrahedron, the sails will generate more lift. The sail design is being patented and therefore cannot be explained further here. Suffice it to say, this will be no ordinary boat. With this light weight structure, flying along above the water on hydrofoils, the team will be able to break the World Speed Record in Sailing. The overall record stands at 77 miles per hour for 500 meters, set in 2020. The Team expects to be able to break the overall record with our third generation boat in 2023. The first record the team expects to achieve is for the Nautical mile distance at an average speed of 63.6 miles per hour. This is the speed the team is confident will be possible with our second generation boat that will be made primarily out of carbon fiber.
Upcoming Team Events
April is the month for making the sails.
May we will be installing the surf boards onto the frame.
May we will be working on the rigging as well
Team Sponsors
Want to Support The Team?
Individuals: If you want to help support our team goal of bringing the fastest sailboat to life, Click the button to the right and donate to the team.
Sponsors: If you want to have your company name or brand on the sails of the fastest sailboat in the world, Please contact Ed VanDyne at [email protected]