Page 134 - Sharp Winter 2023

THE NEW AGE OF SAIL
HAMILTON BACKS A BID FOR THE WORLD SAILING SPEED RECORD
By Jeremy Freed
T HE PURSUIT OF SPEED RECORDS ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO
be. The land speed record for cars hasn’t budged since the late 1990s, while the manned air speed record has stood untouched since the 1970s. There is one place, however, where the pursuit of record-breaking speeds is alive and well: sailing. That’s where French engineering firm Syroco, led by world record-holding kitesurfer Alex Caizergues and backed by Swiss watchmaker Hamilton, is working on their very own moonshot. If they are successful, their achievement could help to usher in a new age of sustainable maritime transport.
Syroco’s experimental watercraft is a sailboat by definition. But without a mast, a rudder, or other conventional elements, it doesn’t look like anything else on the water. Equipped with a long, slender enclosed hull, an angular hydrofoil, and a large kite sail, Syroco’s experimental craft is designed with one purpose: to reach 150 km/h on the open water using sail power alone. Equal parts
hydrofoil racing yacht and kiteboard, Syroco’s design makes the most of the prevailing winds via a long, narrow sail attached to the hull by cables. The twin-bladed hydrofoil — similar to those on hydrofoil kiteboards — provides essential downforce and stability, while allowing the boat to “fly” above the surface of the water.
In celebration of this partnership, Hamilton has released a special-edition version of its Khaki Navy Scuba dive watch inspired by Syroco’s historic bid. Decked out in nautical blue and silver, the watch features a blue dial with coloured gradations symbolizing the target speed of 150 km/h, along with an H-10 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve.
Syroco will begin construction of its prototype in early 2023, and plans to make its record-breaking run later in the year. Syroco isn’t just after bragging rights, however. If successful, their achievement will act as a powerful amplifier for the many potential applications of their proprietary tech in maritime transportation. Rather than putting sails on cargo ships, however, Syroco’s EfficientShip soft- ware — a cutting-edge suite of digital modelling tools developed to design their hydrofoil boat — can also help cargo shipbuilders and operators make significant reductions in carbon emissions. For now, however, Syroco is focused on the immediate future and the glory that can only come from being first across the line.
HAMILTON KHAKI NAVY SCUBA AUTO SYROCO SPECIAL EDITION, $995
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