Dingbat Sailing Boat

Currently under development, a very fast sailing boat for one or two people which can be carried on top of a small car. Easy to sail but should be capable of breaking the outright world sailing speed record. Speed comes from using the wing to lift the hull out of the water leaving only the keel blade in the water to create drag. Control comes from implicit static and dynamic balance. The centre of mass is always at the centre of the boat, without the sailor moving from his seat, while lift and drag forces always act through the centre of lift of the keel. The wing force runs almost directly to the keel, reducing structural requirements and therefore weight. The first prototype only achieved 12 knots, which was insufficient to lift the hulls out of the water. The current prototype has more than double the wing force and half the hull drag as well as numerous other enhancements.For more details see Dingbat.com.au.

dingbat turret detail

The control system is complex but control lines are mostly hidden.

No Trailer required

The production boat will be carried by a small wagon, like the 2nd prototype shown here. All parts weigh less than 20kg and snap together quickly.

"Look, no hands!"

The first prototype during Botany Bay trials with full auto pilot operating. The current prototype still has auto steering available, but the automatic anti-capsize control was dropped because manual control was easier than expected.

Subassembly Model

Simplicity is the aim, but not always possible! This is a CAD model of the connection between the wing "fuselage" (white tube on the left) with the boom top (white tube on the right). Surprisingly, it works well.