04 Sailboat
Transcript: You can also try a challenging sailing app sponsored by Volvo Ocean Racing. Right... Videos (Note: you need to send in both the silver and gold results to get all 4 pts.) This exercise, like all tech exercises, is a team effort. Everyone is responsible for his/her own supplies and for his/her own ship. And everyone is responsible for helping his/her teammates and classmates to succeed as well. 1. Watch an inspiring video about Shackleton's ill-fated 1914 trip to the Antarctic on the research ship — Endurance. Sailboat Your main goal is to beat the other boat. If you can do that (or get a time less than 1:10), then you will get two points. You don't have to worry about most of these factors, but you do have to worry about shape. In fact, that is pretty much the only thing you have to think about: Hull designs are VERY complicated. Naval architects take a lot of factors into account when designing a boat: Reminder Supplies But we can't do that. Instead, let's design and build a sturdy hull that can be used for both a motorboat and a sailboat. And that is the problem that naval architects face. In fact, that is the problem that all designers face — balancing different design objectives. Think of motorboats and sailboats that you have seen. What shape will be stable when acted upon by external forces? And what shape will move through the water quickly? Teamwork The Goal 3. Watch a fun video by NOVA about mankind's never-ending quest to build faster and faster machines. Enjoy! Sail For Gold App 2. Watch an amazing video about Alain Thebault's attempt to set the speed record in his experimental trimaran — L'Hydoptere. Tech 04 That's more difficult than it sounds. The design objectives for these two boats are very different. > Piece of PVC plastic (for the hull) > Wooden dowel (for a mast) > Paper plate (for a sail) > Dental floss (for rigging) > Toothpicks (for belay pins) > Eye screws (for a cleat) No parrots? Where's the fun in that? To scour the seas in search of the Crown's treasure and to put scurvy dogs to the mast! > intended use > power source > desired payload > efficient shape > material strength The tough part is designing a motorboat hull that also works for a sailboat. A sailboat with a long skinny hull will tip over... and a short flat hull will get pushed sideways... and a deep "V" hull is heavy... How do you reconcile all these different design considerations? This is a pirate adventure, so if you want to wear a full pirate costume on the first day of the sailboat race that will be honored with a 2 pt bonus. (Note: no live parrots.) However, if you can get your time below 1:30, you will also get 2 pts. Or.. it could have a deep "V" hull — like a cigarette racer ! Your boat could be long and skinny — like a racing shell. Or... it could be short, flat, and stubby — like a hydroplane racer.