Fans
of sailing and cool imagery regarding sailing may recall an
advertisement photo from a few years ago showing Alex Thomson in a suit
standing on the keel of his racing yacht, Hugo Boss, as it was swiftly
under sail with the keel free of the water. Many believed the image to
have been photo-shopped and Thomson recently set out to prove these
people wrong, by attempting the dangerous stunt with cameras rolling
(see video).
How dangerous is the stunt? The 60-foot yacht weighs 8.2 tons and the
keel alone weighs 4 tons. To allow for a "keel walk" the yacht requires a
wind speed of between 17-19 knots; it must sail at 9 knots and at a
45-degree angle to lift the keel out of the water; and it must hold this
position for 45-60 seconds.
Thomson, of Alex Thomson Racing, is the keel walker, and Ross Daniel is the skipper, but the unnamed jet-ski driver deserves considerable credit for making this work, after several failed attempts. Clearly, this kind of stunt is only for experts, and even then it's more than a little bit crazy.
Thomson, of Alex Thomson Racing, is the keel walker, and Ross Daniel is the skipper, but the unnamed jet-ski driver deserves considerable credit for making this work, after several failed attempts. Clearly, this kind of stunt is only for experts, and even then it's more than a little bit crazy.
http://www.grindtv.com
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