The Fire Ball is a type of amusement ride manufactured by Larson International. It replaced a series of Larson rides manufactured prior to its unveiling, the first being the Super Loops and the second being the Ring of Fire . The ride features a roller coaster -type train which rolls along a ring-shaped track, turning riders upside down at the top of the loop. Older models of this ride type have trains with each half of the train facing opposite directions, with a protective metal cage and a rigid lap bar restraining the riders. In 1998, Larson introduced a new roofless, open-air train with over-the-shoulder harnesses and seats that sit riders face-to-face with each other. Some owners of the older Ring of Fire rides have had the caged train replaced with the new Fire Ball train.
23-544: Though the ride share similarities with that of a roller coaster, notably having a train which rolls along a track, it is often not considered as such since the ride is powered by motorized drive tires, and not by gravity like a roller coaster. Larson makes three different versions of the ride: The Fire Ball, the 22M Giant Loop, and the Giga Loop 100ft. Each ride provides a similar ride experience, but are larger than each other in terms of both size and capacity. The ride structure
46-468: A British professional rower, popularised the use of the modern tubular-metal version and the top rowing events accepted the physiological and ergonomic advantages so acceded to its use in competitions. In recent decades, some manufacturers of racing shells have developed wing-riggers which are reinforced arcs or flattened tubular projections akin to aircraft wings, instead of conventional triangular structures. IMOCA 60 The IMOCA ( "Open 60" )
69-472: A keelboat , "outrigger" refers to a variety of structures by which the running rigging (such as a sheet ) may be attached outboard (outside the lateral limits) of the boat's hull . The Racing Rules of Sailing generally prohibit such outriggers, though they are explicitly permitted on specific classes, such as the IMOCA Open 60 used in several major offshore races. In fishing from vessels, an outrigger
92-489: A 90 degree or 180 degree test. Design restrictions include the hull length to be between 59 and 60 feet (18 m) and maximum draft of 4.5 metres (15 ft). The length including the bowsprit may not exceed 20.12 m. The max beam is 5,85 m . A maximum of four ballast tanks is allowed. Each of them has a limit in size. The hull of the IMOCAs have typically a very wide hull compared to yachts designed for coastal races. This
115-411: A strengthened hull. To increase performance in heavy seas scow-bows were introduced in the class. First introduced on L'Occitane these are supposed to reduce nose diving, which are lowering the average speed significantly. The first IMOCAs had a fully open cockpit where winches and ship's wheel (s) were located. With progressing development the work area got more and more protected by a roof open to
138-530: A toggle handle. Most of these rides have a dead man's operator chair that detects the absence of an operator. This prevents the ride from moving in case the handle is bumped without an operator being sat in the chair. Operators of these rides have to be knowledgeable of weight distribution and speed-to-distance ratio. The amount of power needed to operate this ride is 240 volts , 250 amps (60 kW ). These rides have numerous safety features that include: Formerly El Diablo Outrigger An outrigger
161-606: Is a 60ft (18.288 m) development class monohull sailing yacht governed by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) . The class pinnacle event are single or two person ocean races, such as the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe and this has been intimately linked to design development within the class. The class is recognised by World Sailing . The class is of "open" design, this means
184-427: Is a large steel boxed-track loop attached to a concrete base or portable trailer with supporting outriggers and steel cables . In this boxed track is a multiple-piece pivoted end-rim (inertia ring) with wheel dogs attached settled within this boxed track. On one section of the rim the train is snugly placed. The rim is run through a shock-absorbent tire drive, which drives the train around the loop. The ride's train
207-504: Is a pole or series of poles that allow boats to trawl more lines in the water without tangling and simulates a school of fish. In a rowing boat or galley , an outrigger (or rigger) is a triangular frame that holds the rowlock (into which the oar is slotted) away from the saxboard (or gunwale in gig rowing ) to optimize leverage. Wooden outriggers appear on the new trireme around the 7th or 6th centuries BC and later on Italian galleys around AD 1300 , while Harry Clasper (1812–1870),
230-405: Is a projecting structure on a boat, with specific meaning depending on types of vessel. Outriggers may also refer to legs on a wheeled vehicle that are folded out when it needs stabilization, for example on a crane that lifts heavy loads. An outrigger describes any contraposing float rigging beyond the side ( gunwale ) of a boat to improve the vessel's stability. If a single outrigger is used it
253-429: Is rocked back and forth at a generous rate, as not to put too much stress on the tire drive. It elevates on every pass through the station until it has gained enough momentum to make it completely around the loop, thus riders experiencing hangtime (the feeling of themselves almost falling out of their seats). Once a number of consecutive loops are made, it can be shifted to go the other direction. It can also be stopped at
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#1732891784927276-453: Is supposed to give more stability in wilder sea states. The mid 2000s boats had mostly a very streamlined hull optimized to create very few turbulences, thus reducing resistance. With the introduction of foils the stresses the hull is expected to sustain changed. For one on the points where the foils are attached, secondly the contact point between hull and waves moved further back. As a result older boats retrofitted with foils often needed also
299-530: Is usually but not always windward . The technology was originally developed by the Austronesian people . There are two main types of boats with outriggers: double outriggers (prevalent in maritime Southeast Asia ) and single outriggers (prevalent in Madagascar , Melanesia , Micronesia and Polynesia ). Multihull ships are also derived from outrigger boats. In an outrigger canoe and in sailboats such as
322-399: The proa , an outrigger is a thin, long, solid, hull used to stabilise an inherently unstable main hull. The outrigger is positioned rigidly and parallel to the main hull so that the main hull is less likely to capsize . If only one outrigger is used on a vessel, its weight reduces the tendency to capsize in one direction and its buoyancy reduces the tendency in the other direction. On
345-435: The back, sometimes also called cave. The ship's wheels were mostly replaced by different versions of tillers as autopilots took over more of the steering. In boats of the 2020 generation the first fully enclosed cockpits appeared; these allow the skippers to stay dry most of the time. The mast of IMOCA, which is held in place by several stays is able to turn with the main sail, typically it has about 180 m . The area of
368-407: The boat is measurement controlled and therefore designers have freedom within the rules. Several parts including the mast, boom and the canting keel ram and fin are one design for safety reasons. After several severe incidents in the early years of the class a self righting capability was introduced. Each boat must be able to self-right itself at any time. Every boat must prove this capability in
391-464: The boat with the best wind angle and to avoid boat-breaking loads. Evolution of autopilot : Hydraulic control of the adjustment of the sails and the foils. For reasons of cost and maturity of technology, this track is still excluded from all the rules. However, on flying sailboats that are increasingly akin to aircraft in mechanical terms, it seems inevitable that the automated servo-controls already developed and generalized in aviation will be adapted to
414-399: The inverted V-shape on Charal 2 are able to provide some lift. Additionally, two more appendages are allowed. Typically these are either hydrofoils or daggerboards . Both types of appendages are typically able to be (partially) retracted. The rake/angle of the foils can be changed up to 5 degrees. Each boat is equipped with an autopilot that keeps the boat going constantly to allow
437-414: The main sail can be adjusted by lowering it towards the boom, its bottom attachment. The main sail is fully battened. To improve the performance of the mainsail the gap between boom and hull/cockpit might be closed. Charal 2 implemented this first. Forward of the mast, most boats have at least four forestays which can carry headsails. Three of these are usually attached to the deck and, as well as bracing
460-439: The mast, can carry jibs. The fourth stay runs from the mast to the tip of the bowsprit and is used for gennaker or spinnaker sails. The number of headsails that can be taken into a race is limited by most race regulations. Two rudders and one keel are mandatory. The keel is allowed to be tilted up to 38 degrees to either side. The rudders are not allowed to have any appendages that provide lift. Certain rudder designs such as
483-455: The skipper to turn to other tasks. The autopilot uses sensors that allow it to take into account sudden variations in apparent wind, speed, load on the foils and sails. Automated obstacle avoidance, whether it is the other ships detected by radar, AIS , or obstacles detected by the OSCAR system, a system to detect unknown floating objects. The data provided by the sensors allow the autopilot to steer
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#1732891784927506-485: The top. Since the Super Loop-styled rides are tire-driven, even the slightest water build-up on the rim can cause the drive tires to hydroplane on the rim. This action keeps the ride from completing its loop and can sometimes make a loud squeal. Like many amusement rides, these rides should not be operated during inclement weather such as thunderstorms . Most of the Super Loop-styled rides are manually operated with
529-643: The world of foiling boats. T-Rudders : Elevators in the back of the boat have been discussed. The IMOCA general assembly has voted against the introduction, most recently in October 2023. Mast : Due to the increasing loads to the mast due to foiling, changes to the one design mast are under discussion. The first major sailing competition in which the Open 60s appeared was the 1986 BOC Challenge . The first boats were only limited by their length, up to 15 tons heavy and mostly constructed from aluminium. Major milstones in
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