Elcanoplan - Kerbin sea circumnavigation on hydrofoils [complete!]

[Alchemist]

speedboat? hydroplane? ekranoplan? Elcanoplan!
Kerbin sea circumnavigation - as much travel over water as possible (but a part of the route will have to cross the land)

Start point:

Just drove off the runway and into water

Engine engaged, raising onto hydrofoils, reaching the cruise speed and let's go!

 

Phase 1: Northeast island
Distance: 141 km
MET: 0:55-2:11

Land!

Looks like a nice bay

And crawling out of the water. Not that much fuel spent, but let's fill the tanks

And after full refueling

Let's swim across the ocean!

 

 

What? Sunset? Has it really been that long?

And we are still halfway to the next destination...

 

Phase 2: Cape of Falling Stars
(or were those actually spent stages?)

Distance from last point: 244 km (242 km)
Total distance traveled: 385 km (383 km)
Distance from KSC: 359 km (354 km)
(numbers in parenthesis are straight-line measurments before accounting for curvature)
MET: 0d 3:39
 

Land? Not just land - the end of a continent!

Crawling ashore right on the cape

Between two oceans

We have enough fuel - let's no waste the night.

And further east!

 

Phase 3: Good morning island!
Isn't it a good sign to find an island on sunrise? And right near a cape from a big continent!

Distance from last point: 297 km (294 km)
Total distance traveled: 682 km (677 km)
Distance from KSC: 647 km (616 km)
MET: 0d 5:10 - 1d 0:54

Sun! Land!

Marching ashore

A well deserved shore leave

Reached a new continent! Not a continent? Slightly offshore?

Still a nice island!

OK, now we are refueled

And set course northeast!

 

Phase 4: Owl island
White Owl once considered building an airbase there to land reusable boosters. He was using modded space center location - on the continent west of this island.

Distance from last point: 397 km (390 km)
Total distance traveled: 1079 km (1067 km)
Distance from KSC: 939 km (846 km)
MET: 1d 3:00

And the Sun set halfway there again...

Choosing a good beach

And we are here!

Longest single glide so far!

Well, we still have half of total fuel capacity and half the night is still there...

Let's move on (and hope we don't run out of fuel)

 

Phase 5: Crack gulf cape

Distance from last point: 370 km (364 km)
Total distance traveled: 1449 km (1431 km)
Distance from KSC: 1225 km (1023 km)
MET: 1d 5:07 - 2d 0:51

Looks like we got there!

Drop out of glide, switch to swim and get on the beach

And into this gulf our path goes next

767 km covered since last refueling!

And by the time we got here, morning reach our previous stop. But we saw the sunrise halfway here.

Let's just fill... What? Sunset?! Already?!

But we mined just half the fuel! Okay, let's move on.

At least we aren't crossing an ocean this night.

 

Phase 6: Landcrack gulf
This place really looks like if somebody tried to tear the landmass apart.

Distance from last point: 100 km
Total distance traveled: 1549 km (1531 km)
Distance from KSC: 1287 km (1054 km)
MET: 2d 1:25

Cruising inland along the shore

Is that ..?

Yeah, the ocean has ended

We have run out of water

Kind of...

Land is full of lakes

 

Edited August 28, 2016 by Alchemist

[Claw]

That looks like some kinda interesting mashup between an alligator and a swamp boat. Like one collided with the other too hard, and they were sent into the kerbal dimension.

Very neat and unique design! Nice job

[Alchemist]

Phase 7: Crossing the land:

7.1: Linden lake
Length: 17km
MET: 2d 1:48

From the sea and into the lake

Cruising

And back on the shore between lakes

The small one in the middle looks like a linden leaf, doesn't it?

The shores are rather steep here.

And climbing even further

 

7.2: Small Linden lake
Length: 10 km
MET: 2d 2:02

Driving downhill...

Slide carefully!

And swimming onward!

At least this shore is not so steep

Here we are!

These lakes traversed. Now some real driving to the next ones.

Roll out!

 

7.3: Lakeshore plains
Length: 19 km
MET: 2d 2:25

Choosing most level path

At least we aren't climbing those mountains

And there's the water in front of us

Just drive down...

Splash!

Bill had to swim to place the flag

 

7.4: Twin Lakes - West
Length: 24 km
MET: 2d 2:37

Cruising by the mountains

The lake is long, but there's the end

And beginning of the second lake - they are actually connected.

Right between the Twin Lakes!

 

 

7.5: Twin Lakes - East
Length: 31 km
MET: 2d 2:55

This lake is even longer

And with even more spectacular views

And it's so deep and with steep shores - a real mountain lake.

But we got out. Let's enjoy the scenery

And even viewed from this altitude, the lake goes beyond the horizon

 

7.6: Mountlake hills
Length: 26.5 km
MET: 2d 3:19

The view is great, the terrain is terrible

Mountains on the right, tiny lakes on the left

and hill this craft is not exactly meant to cruise over

 

Got out of there by the sunrise

 

7.7: Roundshore bay
Length: 30 km
MET: 2d 3:42 - 3d 0:15

At least the final part is level enough

What an nice-looking bay.

Stopping on the shore

And start mining!

 

Total:
Land phase distance navigated: 158 km
Distance between shore points: 151 km
Total distance navigated: 1707 km (1689 km)
Distance from KSC: 1391 km (1100 km)

 

And this was probably a more eventful part than the rest of the entire circumnavigation. Because there's not that much going on when just cruising across an ocean

 

And a few hours later... sun is setting. No more mining

Well, the ore tanks are still empty, but let's go

Into the night, into the ocean and pretty much into nowhere

Edited August 17, 2016 by Alchemist

[Alchemist]

Phase 8: Loneliness island
lonely little isle in the middle of nowhere

Distance from last point: 415 km (407 km)
Total distance traveled: 2123 km (2096 km) - over half the circumference!
Distance from KSC: 1676 km (1182 km)  - past the opposite point!
MET: 3d 2:32 - 5:05

Found a small island

Let's land on southern end

And looks like the dawn is near

Let's stop here

In the middle of the ocean

And let's top off while we plot the next part of the route

And refueled!

Southwest... Why are we going back?

 

Phase 9: Sunset island
And when the Sun is setting here, it's morning back at our home base

Distance from last point: 145 km
Total distance traveled: 2268 km (2241 km)
Distance from KSC: 1818 km (1198 km)  - we are going further again...
MET: 3d 5:51 - 4d 0:11

Another island...

Around the edge and onto the shore

And let's mine a bit before the Sun sets

And move south

 

Phase 10: Nadir bay
- So, how far is the home?
- By the ground? Slightly over 1880 km.
- Which way?
- Any way.
- What's the shortest way to KSC?!
- Down. 1200 km.

Distance from last point: 66 km
Total distance traveled: 2334 km (2307 km)
Distance from KSC: 1881 km (1199,993 km)  - how much further can you get?
MET: 4d 0:25

Around this cape and into the bay

And what's the distance from the start point?

1200 km by straight line... DIAMETER!

Here we are on the other side of the planet

We don't have anywhere further to go

Now we are really going home

 

Phase 11: Squid island
Kraken!? Are you there?

Distance from last point: 50 km
Total distance traveled: 2384 km (2357 km)
Distance from KSC: 1843 km (1199,25 km)
MET: 4d 0:53

Land on the left, land on the right

We are going to the isle

Getting on the shore of it

The isle is looking like a squid!

(Let's hope the Kraken didn't hear it)

 

Phase 12: Munrise peninsula

Distance from last point: 124 km
Total distance traveled: 2508 km (2481 km)
Distance from KSC: 1718 km (1188 km)
MET: 4d 1:37

Oh look, the Mun is rising!

According to its phase, sunrise will be soon

But our next destination is not too far

Therefore, let's not stay here too long

 

Phase 13: Gateway peninsula
Totally a gate out of this ocean

Distance from last point: 238 km (236 km)
Total distance traveled: 2746 km (2717 km)
Distance from KSC: 1490 km (1136 km)
MET: 4d 3:00-5:25

Approaching the very end of this huge peninsula

It starts far in the south and goes up to here

And here we are going to refuel for the next part

We had a little detour tonight...

Didn't even fully refuel after that

Leaving the shore...

Norhteast??? But the way home is southeast! Another detour?!

Edited August 21, 2016 by Alchemist

[Alchemist]

Phase 14: Atoll Edge island (northeast end)
How long is it?

Distance from last point: 403 km (395 km)
Total distance traveled: 3148 km (3112 km)
Distance from KSC: 1138 km (975 km)
MET: 5d 1:32

And here's the island

Let's go to the end of it

So long... should have measured its length

Reached the end!

And the Mun is rising just before the dawn

Now set course for the center of this huge crater

 

Phase 15: Impact epicenter
Something big fell here to leave such a crater

Distance from last point: 92 km
Total distance traveled: 3240 km (3204 km)
Distance from KSC: 1108 km (957 km)
MET: 5d 2:15 - 4:14

Sunrise

Target on the horizon!

Looks like the to of a high mountain

And likely is

Is there any proper beach anywhere on this mountainside?

OK, let's turn in here

And climb up somewhere

All right, found somewhere the ship doesn't slide from!

What a crater it is! Slightly over 90 km radius. What kind of impact could make it?

Who turned the power off??? Blocked by the... Mun!?

Didn't let us refuel!

We need to go west anyway

Maybe we'll even get some suntime there

 

Phase 16: Atoll Edge island (southwest end)
Island length: 87,2 km (straight line) /  91 km (90 km radius arc)

Distance from last point: 74,5 km
Total distance traveled: 3315 km (3279 km)
Distance from KSC: 1181 km (999,6 km)
MET: 5d 4:42-4:57

Returning to the island

Where can we get on shore with this terrain?

Let's just do it like this

And let's check out the very end of the island

And since the Sun has set, let's jut pick Val up here

And let's check where the ridge reemerges

 

 

Phase 17: Continental crater ridge (west end)

Distance from last point: 70,5 km
Total distance traveled: 3385 km (3349 km)
Distance from KSC: 1165 km (991 km)
MET: 5d 5:29

A mountain ridge just raises out of sea

No shallow place to drive on it

Just stop near shore and swim to place the flag

And heading southwest to get back on track

Edited August 21, 2016 by Alchemist

[Geschosskopf]

Very nice boat thing you've got there.  Good luck with the rest of the trip.

[RocketSquid]

I like it! Strikes a balance between sleek speedboat and industrial mining rig.

[Alchemist]

5 hours ago, Geschosskopf said:

Very nice boat thing you've got there.  Good luck with the rest of the trip.

Thanks!

5 hours ago, RocketSquid said:

I like it! Strikes a balance between sleek speedboat and industrial mining rig.

Yeah, that was the exact idea. A relatively heavy high speed vehicle cruising over the surface of water.

Actually it was somewhat inspired by this

[Alchemist]

Phase 18: Bird's head peninsula

Distance from last point: 165 km (164 km)
Total distance traveled: 3550 km (3513 km)
Distance from KSC: 1276 km (1049 km)
MET: 6d 0:22

From open sea, back to shoreline

Another brief stop

Looks like a head of a bird - and we are on the very beak

 

 

Phase 19: Gatekeeper island

Distance from last point: 47 km
Total distance traveled: 3597 km (3560 km)
Distance from KSC: 1320 km (1070 km)
MET: 6d 0:48

Around another shore

Look: a small island!

And it's right on the entrance to this strait

 

 

Phase 20: Labyrinth strait

Distance from last point: 34 km
Total distance traveled: 3631 km (3594 km)
Distance from KSC: 1319 km (1069 km)
MET: 6d 1:08

Going in there

Along this crooked shore

And let's stop somewhere here

 

 

Phase 21: Backdoor strait

Distance from last point: 32 km
Total distance traveled: 3663 km (3626 km)
Distance from KSC: 1343 km (1080 km)
MET: 6d 1:20

And there's a quick exit out of this maze

Reached another ocean!

Quite a terrain to navigate!

And just look at these detours:

Edited August 21, 2016 by Alchemist

[damerell]

You've got it in the bag now, nice one...

[Alchemist]

Phase 22: Race into the sunrise

Distance from last point: 115 km
Total distance traveled: 3778 km (3741 km)
Distance from KSC: 1229 km (1025 km)
MET: 6d 2:04 - 5:01

Well, we do have some fuel left and some time before the sunrise

So let's go further east

This way we'll get sunlight faster

While covering more distance

And a little more...

Let's just try not to end up dead in the water. Literally.

Alright, we'll come to shore here

Right on time

Pretty much ran dry

Now we'll have to refuel

...
And... not that much mined actually

We have another night to navigate

 

Phase 23: Sraightcut shore

Distance from last point: 94 km
Total distance traveled: 3872 km (3835 km)
Distance from KSC: 1136 km (974 km)
MET: 6d 5:36

Now it's rather straightforward

A rather straight coast between a landmass and an open ocean

And moving on

 

Phase 24: Tethered island
this technically makes it a peninsula, doesn't it?

Distance from last point: 138 km
Total distance traveled: 4010 km (3973 km)
Distance from KSC: 1002 km (890 km)
MET: 7d 0:21

Here is the land...

Which is barely connected to the continent

And the shore is a bit steep here

 

Phase 25: Miner's shore
Now that's a proper ore supply!

Distance from last point: 171 km
Total distance traveled: 4182 km (4144 km)
Distance from KSC: 833 km (768 km)
MET: 7d 1:20 - 3:41

And once again: dawn, barely any fuel and approaching the coast from open sea

Right on the sunrise!

And right enough fuel

And this time we got 100% full!

 

Phase 26: Periscope peninsula
And this marks another ocean completed.

Distance from last point: 133 km
Total distance traveled: 4315 km (4277 km)
Distance from KSC: 708 km (668 km)
MET: 7d 4:27

Really looks like a periscope sticking out of the continent

And we have navigated (totally by the shoreline) another ocean

One last ocean to go!

 

Edited August 28, 2016 by Alchemist

[Alchemist]

Phase 27: Desert coast

Distance from last point: 181 km
Total distance traveled: 4496 km (4458 km)
Distance from KSC: 588 km (565 km)
MET: 7d 5:32

Let's just explore this shoreline a bit

How far the beach is from the shore? Actually the sand really is all over the area even deep into the land.

 

Phase 28: Phoenix cape
It's a bird? It's a plane? It's a shuttle reentering!

Distance from last point: 257 km (255 km)
Total distance traveled: 4754 km (4713 km)
Distance from KSC: 335 km (331 km)
MET: 8d 1:02 - 2:08

And here's the southeast end of this continent

Let's get onto the beach

And we may as well mine a bit. The last refueling on the route

And let's actually not spend the entire day here

 

[Alchemist]

Phase 29: Turnaround cape
Aerial approach trajectories also often turn over this area

Distance from last point: 249 km (247 km)
Total distance traveled: 5003 km (4960 km)
Distance from KSC:129 km
MET: 8d 3:33

Just around the corner - and we'll be home

Southern end of the continent

And now this cape extruding slightly further east

One last stop

And now our path is straight

 

Phase 30: Back to KSC!

Distance from last point:129 km
Total distance traveled: 5132 km (5089 km) - 1,36 of circumference. We had some detours after all.
Distance from the start point:0 km
MET: 8d 4:24

Just around the corner - and we'll be home

Cruising along the shore

Oh look, the VAB!

Around the KSC territory...

And here's the start point! (and target SAS still tries to point too much down)

And we are back where we started

Let's put the flag

And now...

Mission finished!

[Zamolxes77]

Very nice, I came up with a similar concept, but much much bigger. I'm using a mk3 capsule and cargo bays, which house a isru refinery. On the back end, 6 junior drills, everything operated by fuel cells and cooled by radiators. It does 100-150 m/s safely over the ground and carries around 4 aero spikes which allows it to operate VTOL on small distances. Next step is to figure out this hydrofoil business. I'm aiming for literally an ALL terrain vehicle, that can move at great speeds over water and land, able to refuel itself and use VTOL to jump over pole ice shelf or small mountains.

Any hints you would be willing to share about those hydrofoils?

Edited September 4, 2016 by Zamolxes77