Sunday, May 11, 2025

Racing with the wind, gyroscopically speaking

      For all you naval architects who happen to come across this post. Let it be known that this is an idea of mine freely given. Provided you should happen to incorporate it in your designs for the Americas' Cup, please be generous to the poor.
       Consider the use of a rather large diameter gyroscope in the main salon of an Americas' Cup vessel, spindled as part of the forward mast. This could be hidden within a table housing. The gyroscope need not be heavy. The bearing mounts need to be of excellent quality to allow continuous turning.       
  This is commenced with a simple cordless drill with a rubber wheel mounted on the outside of the housing. You simply engage the rubber wheel on the drill motor to increase the rotation of the gyroscope.
        The purpose of all this is to act as a counter force to the press of the wind. This will keep the hull on a even plane.  This will improve the hull performance with less weather helm. The crew would have an easier time sailing. Your ship would sail a truer course   It is easy enough to demonstrate the effectiveness of a gyroscopically assisted vessel using models in a controlled environment such as a pond or design tank.    The passenger vessels already use gyroscopic force to keep her steady, mate. Seasickness a reality on cruise ships. A heavy, fast turning gyroscope seems to help a great deal with mer de mal. This is not well known since it is a protected design. 
         Why not build something different using a gyroscopic force which is not patentable?  These passenger ship gyros are truly heavy, compact and easily hidden in the engine room. I have only seen pictures of these monster gyroscopes.  These work up to a certain point.  When the weather gets severe, the ship becomes unmanageable. 
   You want to increase the speed in the Americas Cup? Simply stream a constant flow of air through a small tube mounted along the keel. The tube has small holes to allow the air to rise up the hull creating lift.  You must check the rule book about this. I am fairly sure it would be allowed if the judges know about it beforehand.

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