Four years ago, Sydney based radical skiff and keel boat sailor Sean Langman conceived an idea that could finally break the French windsurfing fraternity’s stronghold on the coveted world speed sailing record.

Built to break through the 50 knot barrier, the design of the 9 metre, purpose built Wot Rocket is a cross between previous world speed record holder, Macquarie Yellow Pages, a foiling International Moth and a sailplane/glider.

Wot Rocket is half sailboat and half sailplane; a nine metre long canoe style hull with two tiny foils, each about a sixth of the size of a Moth foil and a nine metre rigid sail, then a transverse beam out to an aerodynamic twin pod crew compartment.

The transverse wing is like an aircraft, the foils have 15 degrees of movement each but only a few degrees will be used at speed. The front foil will provide lift, basically the height above the runway, just enough to keel or keep the foil in the water, maybe 500mm, while the aft foil will provide pitch and steering.

In a task split, similar to offshore power boating, Thompson will be in the back controlling the pitch foils, Langman will be upfront steering and controlling the mainsheet and trimming the sail.

The difference between this sailboat/sail plane and any that have come before it is that it will be attempting to break through the water speed barrier using a technology as yet untried on any sailing craft – supercavitation to reduce the drag which is around 1,000 times greater in the water than in air.

The Wot Rocket team believes supercavitation could be the breakthrough for sailing boats. The most famous practical application is the Russian’s Shkval torpedo which has a maximum speed of 200+ knots (370 km/h).

This speed is a result of supercavitation. The torpedo is, in effect, flying in a gas bubble created by outward deflection of water by its specially shaped nose cone and the expansion of gases from its engine. By keeping water from contacting the surface of the body of the torpedo, this significantly reduces drag and allows extremely high speeds. In effect, the Shkval is an underwater missile.

Sailing boats don’t have engines to produce gas, but Andy Dovell thinks fin and foil design can deliver the same effect.

The concept behind the Wot Rocket approach is to induce supercavitation at lower speeds where control can still be maintained and from there to push through to the top speeds.

The Wot Rocket team has spent well over a year on crew safety.

The crew pod is monocoque carbon fibre with air canisters, to allow 10 minutes to get out in case of emergency.

The crew will wear full body harnesses, a lot like an F1 offshore powerboat.