Monday, July 4 2005 16:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: A catamaran fitted with aircraft wings capable of travelling at half the speed of wind could soon debut on Indian shores, if the model being put together at the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore comes out with flying colours.

The model conceived and fabricated by a team led by Prof V Radhakrishnan will be 15 metres long, eight metres wide and will have a 15 metre high wing to enable a smooth and speedy sail.

Son of Nobel scientist Sir C V Raman, Radhakrishnan, will receive the M P Birla Memorial Award 2005 for his contribution to astronomy and astrophysics, on Monday (July 4,2005), that the project being partly funded by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

"This wing-sail propelled electronically controlled ocean going catamaran would have joysticks on its sleek control panel and can travel at half the speed of wind. It will also have back-up solar sails to see it through less windy patches", said Radhakrishnan, who has had a long-term interest in sailing.

The catamaran, which will soon be fitted with vertical wings, could have commercial application, but Radhakrishnan was not willing to comment on it.

"Why does a singer sing or a painter paint? They certainly don't look at what use their passion might be put to. I am building this machine because I love sailing," he said.