Lift--Sailboats have it, power boats really shouldn't

People might not be happy with this post.  But two people lost their lives and I need to address something.

First, thanks to my aeronautical engineer friends/clients I give you this graphic:

For sailboaters, we learn the basic concepts of this pretty quickly, after all, a plane wing is nothing but a sail set horizontally.  One of my instructors has told me that's why airplanes have the same navigational light configuration as a boat, but I haven't got that confirmed.

So, here's some basics from the above equation.  Density. Velocity (squared!!) Area.

Okay, why am I on this tangent and what does it have to with power boaters? This week is the Key West Powerboat  Races two guys from Missouri died. Normally, down there,  winds would have more of an easterly prevalence to them.  If (sailors) are lucky some southerly to that.  It's been like that for a couple weeks now and couple weeks ago, the 'natives' kept saying it was cold because of the north winds.

The course for the powerboat race is in the harbor right in front of Mallory Square and the cruise ship dock.  Thus, power boats speeding along and extremely high rates of speed will have their noses directly into the wind.


Here's your homework assignment: Next time you are on a plane, see which way they point the plane.
Answer: Into the wind.

Why?  It helps with rotation to get lift and become .... AIRBORNE.

So, I am not a powerboat racer, not really interested in going high speeds over water and getting the crap knocked outta me.  However, I do appreciate those who are into the sport.  And I also, I am not the organizer, but here's my bitch:  Why have the races in these conditions?

You have a boat that can got the speeds of a 737 at take off and nose into the wind at plane (rotation for you aerospace folks).  Yes, the boat is going to launch. In which gravity is going to have its say.

So two people died this week, and there was another crash today.

So I ask you folks that organize this race:  Are you being responsible?  I say no.

The footage for the crash is on YouTube, and it's shot from Mallory Square.  There are children and onlookers about, what if the boat crashed on them?  Huh?  There is also a mooring field (I don't think the course went close enough to it) but what if they landing on some cruisers?

And if you want a lesson in lift vs. gravity, it's very educational.

So, I put forth my OpEd to say, I am very disappointed that it hasn't been suspended. I'm sure this has been done in these conditions before, but I say it's totally irresponsible.

Comments are welcome.  However, respect the deceased, I do not what to have them disgraced.