Wind-powered ‘car’ reaches 126mph
A land yacht may not be as practical a means of transport as a car, but it is green and surprisingly quick.
British engineer, Richard Jenkins last week proved the point when he reached a speed of 126.1mph (202.9km/h) in a carbon-fibre model he designed himself, in the process smashing the world land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle.
The Greenbird vehicle was the culmination of ten year’s design and development. The previous record of 116 mph was set in 1999.
The shape of things to come
The design of Greenbird bears a resemblance to the British dinghy which is close to beating the world sailing speed record of 50.7 knots (58mph).
The Vestas SailRocket looks unlike any other sailing vessel; a wing replaces a conventional sail and is attached to an outrigger rather than the hull.
| The carbon-fibre Greenbird land yacht | …the world’s fastest wind-powered vehicle |
|---|---|
| Watch a film of the record-breaking run, which took place on a dry lake in Nevada | |
Related articles:
- British dinghy does 0-60mph in 5 seconds
- Running your car on windmills
- Windmills in the sky help tackle global warming
What is the ETA?
The ETA is an organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.
