An 18-metre IMOCA yacht weighs 9 tonnes. So how does it fly?
The answer is a set of hydrofoils – underwater wings that lift the entire hull clear of the waves, unleashing incredible speed. But flying is a violent balancing act. Too low, and the boat slams into the ocean, risking structural failure. Too high, and it crashes, with the sailors inside absorbing the impact.
We break down the unforgiving physics of how these machines work and reveal the split-second decisions the crew makes to stay on the right side of the line between speed and disaster.
#TheOceanRace #IMOCA #Sailing #Hydrofoil #TechExplained #OceanRacing #Engineering
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