Introduction: High-Performance Marine Vessels

Abstract

What is high performance? The meaning has changed with time and could be equally applied to wind-powered vessels as to machine-powered craft. Speed is an important factor, though normally it is combined with the ability to traverse waves as smoothly as possible. Our subject in this book is marine vessels that are able to travel at high speed. In the first chapter, we introduce the different concepts that have been developed for fast travel over the water surface, and in several cases also over snow, ice, extreme shallow waters and flatlands. We start with a brief historical perspective, and follow with a simple introduction to the main technical issues facing a designer. The central thread of the different concepts is finding ways to minimize the drag created by the vessel moving forward while also maintaining stability and minimizing motions that may cause discomfort to passengers or damage to freight.