SP80 has stepped in direction of breaking the world velocity crusing document, attaining 51 knots. The group goals to beat the present document of 65.45 knots by the top of summer time 2025
The kite-powered SP80 has achieved a brand new prime velocity of 51 knots in Leucate, France, taking them one step nearer to their said intention of beating the world velocity document earlier than summer time 2025. The present crusing velocity document stands at 65.45 knots and was set in 2012 by Paul Larsen aboard Vestas Sailrocket II.
To attain the document, the SP80 group is pinning their hopes on the engineering behind the boat. It has a custom-designed foil, which the group says is constructed to propel it previous 1500 kpm/h.
Celebrating aboard SP80. Photograph: Guillaume Fischer
‘This run above 50 knots allowed us to lastly observe the behaviour of our foil in a velocity vary that is still largely unexplored on the earth of crusing,’ explains Benoît Gaudiot, the kite pilot aboard SP80.
‘We intentionally slowed the boat down simply earlier than reaching 52 knots as a precaution, however our evaluation of the information signifies that it didn’t encounter any main limitations. That is extraordinarily promising for the long run!’
‘The boat is now near its full technical potential,’ defined SP80 pilot Mayeul van den Broek. ‘The problem for Benoît and I now’s to sail as a lot as potential to grasp the boatʼs behaviour from 0 to over 70 knots. We have to fine-tune our trajectories, enhance our synchronisation, and push the machine even additional.’
SP80 in 2025. Photograph: Guillaume Fischer
The group launched the newest model of the boat in January 2025, and 5 days later, in February, SP80 set a median velocity of 41.35 knot over the document distance of 500 meters.
‘Because the boatʼs relaunch firstly of 2025, the climate has not at all times been beneficial, with winds usually too gentle to build up vital crusing hours. However with every outing, we will really feel it the logistics are working easily, the boat desires to go quicker… all we’d like now’s extra time on the water to unleash its full potential!’
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The SP80 journey
The group behind SP80 began in 2017 when one of many three founders Benoît Gaudiot, constructed super-ventilated fins for a kiteboard. As an skilled kiteboard sailor, Gaudiot shortly reached 41 knots. Nonetheless, he realised then that ‘The physique can’t deal with the ability that’s required to achieve greater than 60 knots.’
One other founder, Xavier Lepercq, constructed a simulation device and started growing designs. The creators created a trimaran idea powered by a kite with an aligned power balanced by a water surface-piercing foil.
One in every of SP80‘s first high-speed runs in 2025. Photograph: Guillaume Fischer
In 2020, they examined a prototype on Lake Geneva and, in June 2021, started constructing your entire boat at Persico Marine.
By 2022, the SP80 group deliberate to problem the document within the south of France early in 2023, and Paul Larsen was trying ahead to it. On the time, Larsen commented, ‘I believe the SP80 is a sensible resolution… I believe SP80 might be nearer to getting outcomes. And I need to see how a kite’s going to go in opposition to the [Sailrocket] wing as a result of traditionally wings are quicker.’
Hitting 50 knots is undoubtedly a formidable feat for the SP80 group. Certainly, some thought of this an absolute higher restrict for wind-powered, waterborne craft on the flip of the century.
SP80 from the seashore within the south of France. Photograph: Guillaume Fischer
Nonetheless, there are 25 knots of common velocity earlier than bettering Larsen’s document and turning into the world’s quickest boat. Each knot thereafter turns into tougher to realize.
The SP80 group hopes their first official document makes an attempt will happen this spring at their base in Leucate, Occitanie. Their newest speeds imply the velocity crusing world might be eyeing their progress with renewed curiosity.
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