What is the fastest human-powered boat?
Human-powered boats have been around for centuries, and they have evolved over time to become faster, lighter, and more efficient. Today, there are numerous competitions and records that challenge the limits of human-powered speed, and one of the most intriguing and thrilling questions is: what is the fastest human-powered boat?
According to the Guinness World Records, the current official world record for the fastest human-powered boat is held by the Dutch team TU Delft, who set the record of 41.14 km/h (25.5 mph) in their hydrofoil boat, the Decavitator, on 1 July 1991. The Decavitator was powered by a single cyclist who pedaled a propeller under the water, while the hydrofoil design lifted the boat out of the water and reduced drag.
However, the Decavitator’s record has faced several challenges and unofficial claims, some of which are still debated and disputed. Some of the most notable contenders for the fastest human-powered boat include:
1. The MIT team’s watertight human-powered submarine, the Ictineu, which reached a speed of 8.03 knots (14.86 km/h or 9.25 mph) in June 1995. The Ictineu was designed to compete in the International Submarine Races, which require the submarine to be entirely self-contained and propelled by human power.
2. The Australian team’s human-powered hydrofoil boat, the Bladerunner, which set an unofficial record of 51.36 km/h (31.9 mph) in May 2004. The Bladerunner used a similar hydrofoil design to the Decavitator but had two cyclists pedaling in tandem, with a combined power output of around 1 horsepower.
3. The American team’s pedal-powered boat, the Antrim 27, which set a new record for the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing by a human-powered boat in June 2013. The Antrim 27 covered the 3,130 miles (5,032 km) from Portugal to Miami in 28 days, 20 hours, and 12 minutes, averaging a speed of 5.51 km/h (3.42 mph) over the entire journey.
4. The British team’s human-powered airship, the Gossamer Albatross, which won the first human-powered flight across the English Channel in June 1979. The Gossamer Albatross was powered by a single pedal and propeller and flew for 22.5 miles (36.2 km) at an average speed of 29 km/h (18 mph) before landing safely in France.
These are just a few examples of the impressive feats and innovations that have pushed the boundaries of human-powered speed on water and in the air. It’s fascinating to see how human ingenuity, technology, and physical power can combine to achieve incredible feats of speed, endurance, and creativity, and we can only imagine what new records and challenges will emerge in the future.
