[hpv-boats] Pedal Thruster

[Rick Willoughby]

An update on the pedal thrusters for Peccadillo.

The big catamaran won the Three Peaks Race this year:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/25/3199840.htm

The win was due primarily to sailing ability.  They managed a  
slightly faster trip using the thrusters when the wind died in the  
Derwent River on the final sailing leg.

There is a good photo of the cat with thrusters mounted at the start  
of the race here (image can be enlarged):
http://www.sail-world.com/UK/Australian-Three-Peaks-Race-2011-starts- 
off-at-a-cracking-pace/82737
The drive legs are folded up with the big prop on the back of the  
seat.  The thrusters were secured in this place for the whole race.

Charles said that during the pre race testing and up the Derwent two  
pedalers could hold 2.4 to to 2.5kts working on 30 minute rotation.   
The other boats could hold about 1.5 knots using oars.

Rick Willoughby