Putting high speed boats to the test

Experts will give presentations on new developments, research, technologies, operational procedures, boat designs and equipment. According to the organisers, “many of the best boats built for professional use will be available for full speed sea trialling at open sea.”

Many of the newest technologies developed to enhance performance and efficiency, speed and safety will available for real on water evaluation.

To find out more or express an interest in this invitation-only event email forum@hsbo.org

In an excitingly hands-on vein, a number of the boats will run together from Lorient in France to Lisbon the week before HSBO 2015.

The organisers have clarified that; ”Lisbon Atlantic Challenge is not a boat race.”

The LAEC challenge will provide the opportunity to put each entrant’s boat, engines, drivelines, equipment and crew to the test, in what can potentially be one of the world’s harshest offshore environments; the Bay of Biscay.

Each leg has been kept to a sensible distance to give crew a chance to check over their craft in daylight and re-fuel at each stop, and rest before setting off on the next day’s challenge.

HSBO says the challenge is also an opportunity to benchmark performance of platforms and crews in constantly changing sea conditions and also gather data on impact exposure on hulls and humans.

Boats will be monitored along the course for speed, position, heading and impact on hulls and humans.

The challenge starts in Lorient, France on 26 April, and finishes in Lisbon, Portugal, on 2 May 2015. See: http://offshore-endurance-challenges.org for more information.

The HSBO forum is organised by HSBO, High Speed Boat Operations AB in Sweden. The LAEC is organised by Offshore Endurance Challenges.

By Jake Frith