world record sailboat speed

The World Sailing Speed Record

The history, a story of legendary boats and sailors.

©KEYSTONE Pictures USA

Crossbow - 26,30 knots (48,71 km/h)

October 1972 on the Isle of Portland; Weymouth’s annual Speed Week has gathered a number of experimental boats, and the contenders are eager to show off their speedy machines. The course against which they are measured is a 500m run, simply because a mile does not fit in the venue. The Crossbow and its 4-man crew come out ahead of the bunch, finishing their run in under 37 seconds, thereby logging the first World Speed Sailing Record, as well as cementing the 500m run as the official benchmark.

A unique visibility in the sailing world

The World Sailing Speed Record gets the most attention in the sport because it is not restricted to a single discipline. What’s more, this record has a global impact and goes beyond the boundaries of the sailing world .

« Just like with the sound barrier, once you’re through, you’re through, and the equation for doing 100 knots or greater will have been written. »

Paul Larsen, current World Sailing Speed Record holder

[email protected]  

SP80 Sàrl Rue de Lausanne, 64 1020 Renens VD, Suisse

SP80 Sàrl Z.A - Manufacture de la glisse 11370 Leucate, France

Copyright 2024 | SP80 | All Rights Reserved

SP80 aims to have the fastest sailboat in the world next year. See photos of the futuristic craft poised to break records.

• Company SP80 is trying to break the world record for the fastest sailboat.
• The fastest sailboat speed is currently 65.45 knots — SP80 is gunning for 80 knots, or 92 mph.
• The SP80 boat was displayed at this year's Monaco Yacht Show.

With its slender frame, white exterior, and extraterrestrial vibe, SP80 is looking to break the record for the world's fastest sailboat.

Although the SP80 boat, displayed "ready-to-sail" for the first time this year's Monaco Yacht Show , looks like it would be powered by rocket fuel, a giant kite pulls the vessel along with the wind, Laura Manon, a spokesperson for SP80, told Insider.

"We talked to hundreds of people over the week, and they were all amazed that it was a sailboat with no engine on board," Manon said of the yacht show.

Manon continued: "People in Monaco said it looked more like a submarine or an airplane, and someone even thought it was a drone!"

The French company, started by pals Mayeul van den Broek, Xavier Lepercq, and Benoit Gaudiot in 2018, hopes to use its analog tech to reach 80 knots, or 92 mph, and shatter the 65.45-knot record held by Paul Larsen and his Vestas Sailrocket 2.

Luxury watchmaker Richard Millie, known for its collaborations with Formula 1 , became SP80's title partner to support the venture.

However, despite the team's four-year investment in the project, the boat itself is still in early testing phases. The boat touched water for the first time in early August at Lake Geneva and could withstand being pulled by a speedboat at 30 knots, per a press release on the site — still a far cry from the 80 knots the team is looking to hit.

Related stories

The SP80 boat is 34 feet long, 25 feet wide, and weighs about 330 pounds, per the company's site . In the front is a cockpit for two: One pilot controls the kite, while the other steers the boat. The carbon fiber build is reinforced with Kevlar for added protection in case of a collision, and pilots are strapped down and given helmets and emergency oxygen masks.

The SP80 appears ready to blast off; however, every detail of the boat is designed to ensure it doesn't actually fly.

"At the very high speeds we are targeting, we don't want to fly but to stay really flat on water, kind of like Formula 1," Manon told Insider.

Underneath the boat is a uniquely slanted hydrofoil , built to keep the vessel in the water as the attached kite pulls it to top speeds.

"The boat has three contact points with the water: the main hull and two side floats. At the rear the power module constantly aligns the kite's ascending force, which pulls the boat up, with the foil force that pulls it down," Mayeul van den Broek, CEO of SP80, explains in the video.

As for what's next for the team, the company says the boat is headed to the south of France for further testing as they race for the world record — which they hope to attempt in 2024.

Manon said the team will attach a smaller kite, allow the pilots to start feeling comfortable with the vessel, and gradually increase the speed using larger kites. The goal, Manon said, is to first break the 65 knot record and "then to continuously accelerate until 80 knots."

Watch: The eFoil surfboard lets you fly above the water

• Main content

The Rocket of Lake Geneva

Kite, not sail.

We want our boat to crack the sailing codes Mayeul van den Broek on pushing the limits of what is possible

Testing on Lake Geneva

SP80 team (from left): Xavier Lepercq, Mayeul van den Broek, Benoît Gaudiot

© Guillaume Fischer SP80

WIND POWER FUTURE

Sailor pip hare reflects on the toughest moments that …, get inspired by jimmy spithill's mantra on forging …, alex thomson on what it takes to race in the vendée ….

SYROCO HERITAGE

Shattering the world sailing speed record.

BOLDNESS CATALYZES INNOVATION

Syroco’s first performance is to develop a speed craft designed to shatter the sailing speed record.

The bar is set: 150 km/h

Keeping true to Syroco’s pioneering spirit and thirst for discovery, research has already made it possible to question fundamental paradigms in naval architecture. For only research, coupled with excellence in commitment and execution, can make possible the Moonshot Challenges, the pioneering achievements targeted by Syroco.

Read Engines of Achievement , the research process explained by Syroco’s Chief Technical Officer

THE SPEED RECORD CAMPAIGN

Using the principles of Concept & Innovation Design, select best concept and design the speed craft.

Run numerical simulation, test components and build a scale model.

Build a radio-controlled, at-scale, prototype of the speedcraft.

INAUGURATION

Present radio-controlled prototype to press and sponsors.

SYSTEMS TESTS

Run on-water test campaigns to acquire data for finalizing speedcraft systems.

CONTROLLED FLIGHT

Operate prototype consistently and safely, at increasing speeds.

CONSTRUCTION

Based on learnings from the prototype, build and test the speedcraft.

RECORD CAMPAIGN

With maximum visibility and media coverage, shatter the world sailing speed record!

PROMOTIONAL TOUR

Showcase the achievement through a world tour and a TV documentary.

ALEX CAIZERGUES FASTEST MAN ON WATER

Alex Caizergues, co-founder of Syroco, is the pilot-in-command of the speed craft. Some would say that “Speed” is his middle name... here is an extract of Alex’ impressive palmares:

Two times World Sailing Speed Recordman (2008, 2010)

Four times Kite Speed World Champion (2007, 2009, 2013, 2017)

Current Kite Speed Recordman at 107.36 km/h

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS & SUPPORTERS

INSTITUTIONAL & ACADEMIC

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

SP80: Unveiling of the final boat design for the world speed record

Related Articles

What is WSSRC?

The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) was established by the International Yacht Racing Union (now renamed World Sailing) in 1972. The object was to provide impartial results for increasing numbers of claims by high speed sailing craft (on water: never on ice nor land!). Early on the decision was made to base such outright speed ratifications on a one-way leg of exactly 500 metres. Meetings were held every year, often several meetings a year, in various suitable places in the world and speeds climbed with boats of various configurations and with Windsurfers and Kiteboards. An additional sub-section for speeds over 1 nautical mile was susequently introduced.

In 1988 following several controversial claims about the times and status of long voyages, WSSRC was asked to take over additionally offshore sailing records.

Since 2001 the organization has a full time Secretariat. Hardly a day goes by without some form of activity in what is now a separate and increasing branch of the sport of sailing. The undoubtedly expert council draws members from Australia, France, Great Britain and the USA. Its most immediate duty is the ratification, or otherwise, of timed claimed records, inshore and offshore, which have been achieved in accordance with the rules of WSSRC. Certificates are issued to record holders and their times are listed. WSSRC has a facility for issuing Performance Certificates to sailors who wish to be officially times over accepted courses, but are not expecting to beat a record. Another service is a continuous coordinated list of best elapsed times of offshore racing events in all parts of the world, accepting the times of the race committee.

Note that  we have a policy of not ratifying "youngest/oldest etc" claims or attempts and our rules do not include such categories. We concentrate on speed record attempts and claims, and no longer recognise "human condition" categories which can expand to such an extent that almost anyone would be able to claim a record of some sort. The other issue is that whilst we can clearly monitor and ratify "speed/time" records - at which we have become rather expert - the verification of age/ disability/marital status etc is a less exact science.

WSSRC partners with Guinness Records

Copyright 2022 World Sailing Speed Record Council. All rights reserved.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Speed sailing record: A global battle for dominance

• Toby Heppell
• June 16, 2022

The history of the world speed sailing record is one of battles between boats, windsurfers and kitesurfers all vying for the ultimate prize

Speed sailing records are a relatively new concept. Although the motor car is a newer invention than the sailboat (by many thousands of years!) it was not until 1972 that the first official sailing speed record was set, a full 94 years after the first land speed record was set in a motor vehicle.

There are many reasons for this. Partly it is down to the difficulty of accurately recording speed in the water, and partly due to the fact that because sailboats and sailing craft had long been used for transportation, the tradition of record setting by yacht was all about covering significant distances (crossing oceans, or moving cargo over long stretches of water) in a time that was measured in hours and days, if not weeks.

Speed for a sailing boat was traditionally focussed – and largely remains so today – on maintaining high average speeds over long distances, rather than trying to create a sail-powered vessel or sailboat that could attain a single high peak speed.

Referring to the sailing speed record and world’s fastest boat , commonly means referencing the World Sailing Speed Record Council’s (WSSRC) 500m record – often called the ‘outright’ speed record and the first to be ratified by then newly formed WSSRC in 1972. But there are many other sailing speed records now, all ratified by the WSSRC.

Aside from the outright sailing speed record, the one nautical mile record and the 24-hour record are two more highly sought after records. The 1 nautical mile can often be competed in a craft designed for the outright record, whereas the 24 hour record is the preserve of ocean-going yachts and multihulls. The current 24-hour record was set at an average speed of 37.83 knots, covering a distance of 907.9 nautical miles in the 24 hour period.

Speed sailing record venues

Initially speed sailing records were set at events run in conjunction with the WSSRC where any number of vessels designed for outright speed would compete over a predetermined 500m course.

Typically these venues would feature a stretch of water that was flat enough that waves would not be an issue and was also likely to have some decent wind at the time of the event.

Weymouth & Portland, UK was the home of early speed records

In the early days, Portland near Weymouth in the UK (the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympic Games ) was the effective home of speed sailing and saw the first seven records all set there. With its sheltered harbour and regular strong winds – particularly in the autumn – it was a great venue.

However, as windsurfers and other craft that could be sailed in shallower water came to the fore in speed sailing other venues were found, or created, which took the flat water and high wind concept a step further.

One of the most famous speed sailing venues is the Saintes Maries de la Mer Speed Canal, know as either ‘The Canal’ or ‘The French Trench’. This is a man-made shallow canal that was dug in a west-northwest/east-southeast orientation designed to take advantage of the incredibly strong Marin and Mistral winds that blow in that location.

This venue effectively became home to the world speed sailing record throughout the late 1980s until the early 2000s.

Another (semi) man-made venue, which was particularly effective for kitesurfers, took over as the speed sailing venue of choice from the early 2000s onwards, reflecting the move away from windsurfers holding the record to kite surfers vying for the record. Luderitz, Namibia features a 1 km by 7 km lagoon , where between August and March every year there is a consistent, strong wind, blowing from the south at the perfect angle of 140 degrees to the course.

Zara Davis at the Luderitz speed canal/ Photo: Wikimedia / Walnut1340

Initially this course was relatively untouched to set records but man-made elements have since been introduced to reduce chop and perfect the sailing angle, so that now, the venue resembles The Canal in France.

Despite these three venues between them being the locations for the vast majority of speed sailing records being set, others were used as individual challenges went in search of the perfect venue for their craft – or got lucky with the perfect wind and wave state elsewhere. Among the most famous is Walvis Bay, Namibia, home of the current speed sailing record.

Speed sailing record history

As reflected in the changing venues over time, the history of the speed sailing record is one of different types of craft coming to dominate over long periods of time before being overtaken by new developments.

Crossbow II. Photo: Getty Images

Crossbow and Crossbow II

The fist speed sailing record was set by Tim Colman in his Proa, Crossbow . She was 56 feet long and had a 60 foot mast, but the main hull was a mere 22 inches wide.

A Proa features more than one hull but in an asymmetric configuration with the smaller hull essentially providing righting moment to counter the forces of the sails. The smaller, outrigger hull on Crossbow was separated by 30 feet crossbeams from the main hull, and was where the crew sat in order to add their weight to the righting moment of the boat.

In 1972 Crossbow claimed the record for the world’s fastest yacht at 26.3 knots. Coleman would set another two records in the boat in 1973 (29.30 knots) and 1975 (31.10 knots).

Coleman then launched another boat, Crossbow II , designed to bat his previous records.

Article continues below

Fastest sailboats: The teams aiming to break 80 knots

On 24 November 2012, Paul Larsen and his Sailrocket team rewrote our understanding of the physics of sailboats, stamping their…

Foiling: the history of the hydrofoiler

The biggest revolution to hit watersports in general has been foiling, and it’s easy to view the use of hydrofoils…

Crossbow II had a waterline length of over 60 feet and was unique in many ways. Each hull had its own mast and sail which produced a bi-plane rig.

She was more similar to a catamaran than a proa, but her two hulls were not built square to each other as in the traditional style of catamarans. Instead the two hulls were ‘slewed’, with the leeward one several feet forward of the windward one. This was done to reduce the aerodynamic interference of the two rigs.

She was a resounding success and by 1980 had set four more records over the years, culminating in a final top speed of 36 knots.

The age of the windsurfer

Crossbow II ’s record stood for six years but change was afoot in the speed sailing world as windsurfers where becoming more advanced and closing in on the record. In 1986, ​​Frenchman Pascal Maka set a new record of 38.86 at Sotavento, Fuerteventura.

Maka was ousted from the top spot in 1988, with Briton Eric Neale setting a new record at the Canal in France and becoming the first person to set a speed sailing record over 40 knots.

Maka took the record back in 1990 before Thierry Bielak went on to set three new records at the same location topping out at 45.34 knots.

Yellow Pages in 1993. Photo: Frederick Clement/DPPI Media/Alamy

Yellow pages

Yellow Pages Endeavour was, and remains, one of the most recognisable sailboats for many. She was an impressive bit of kit, designed by Australian Lindsay Cunningham specifically to set a new outright speed sailing record.

In concept she is not dissimilar to a proa though she featured a central skimming hull, and two outriggers, one to windward where the pilot sat and controlled the boat and one to leeward which would counter the force of the sail.

The sail itself was a solid wingsail providing a vast amount of power for its size. The whole thing was something of a technological marvel for its time. However, unlike windsurfers, it could not be sailed in a canal or trench and so the team needed to find a suitably flat coastal area in order to set their record.

In 1993 Yellow Pages Endeavour set a new speed sailing record of 46.52 knots, seemingly putting the record beyond the reach of the windsurfing world.

Cunningham and his team continued to hunt for a new outright record designing a new boat, Macquarie Innovation , which was a development of Yellow Pages with the hopes of putting the record even further out of reach. But they never managed to officially top that first record – the Yellow Pages record eventually stood for 11 years.

Over the course of those 11 years many began to wonder if this record could ever be broken and talk of a theoretical top speed of 50 knots became widespread. But finally in 2004 Finian Maynard on a windsurfer set another new record of 46.82 knots back at the old hunting ground of The Canal in France.

Maynard set another record in 2005, which held for a couple of years before Frenchman, Antoine Albeau stormed to a new record of 49.09 knots in 2008.

All of a sudden 50 knots seemed to be in reach.

Kitesurfing speed records

Just as the windsurfing fraternity had claimed their time at the forefront of speed sailing records, a new upstart sport, kitesurfing began closing in on the windsurfers’ top speeds.

Kitesurfers had been building ever more impressive speeds over the course of the early 2000s, and in the same year Albeau set his record, American Robert Douglas stepped even closer to 50 knots, setting a record of 49.84 knots in Luderitz, Namibia.

It was a particularly good year for records in Luderitz, Namibia as Douglas was immediately ousted by Sebastien Cattelan, the Frenchman becoming the first to top 50 knots setting a new record of 50.26 knots.

But he quickly saw his record fall to fellow countryman Alexandre Caizergues who topped out 2008’s impressive four new records with a 50.57 knot run.

Hydroptere. Photo: Francis DEMANGE / Getty

Unusually in the history of the speed sailing record, it was an ocean crossing boat that would be the next to take the mantle of world’s fastest boat, setting a new record, not in a trench or a canal, or even relatively calm bay, but out to sea.

Hydroptère was the experimental hydrofoiling trimaran that was the brainchild of skipper, helmsman and project founder Alain Thébault, together with design studio VPLP. It was built on principles Thébault proved as early as the 1990s and launched in 2008.

It featured two huge hydrofoils on each outermost hull, which would fully life the boat out of the water.

She would set many distance records in her time, but shortly after she was launched, Hydroptère blasted into the record books, grabbing the 500m record for the D Class (44.8 knots) and the nautical mile record (41.6 knots).

The team’s ultimate goal was the outright sailing speed record, though and in 2009, she pushed this to 52.8 knots, and in the same year set a record of 50.1 knots over a one-mile course.

Although the kitesufers which came before had broken 50 knots, for many Hydroptère’s record was the final nail in the coffin for the theoretical 50 knot limit for a speed sailing vessel.

But the story was not quite over yet for the kitesurfing world, with several new records set in 2010, before the first man to set a speed sailing record on a kiteboard, Robert Douglas, also became the most recent person to do so, hitting 55.65 knots on his kiteboard in Namibia.

Vestas Sailrocket 2 used force alignment to achieve her remarkable speeds. Photo: Vestas Sail Rocket 2

Vestas Sail Rocket 2

Having attempted to set new records in his original SailRocket design, Australian born Paul Larsen launched Vestas Sail Rocket 2 in 2011.

The boat, much like Yellow Pages , was build specifically with record breaking in mind and featured a plethora of technological advances. Special foils were designed and built, a solid wing sail was designed and built and the craft followed an aerodynamic philosophy of balancing forces that had never been seen before.

The Sail Rocket team identified Walvis Bay in Namibia as the best venue for them to set a record and went about their business over the course of the next year.

After years of trial and error from their first boat launch to getting Sail Rocket 2 up to speed, finally in 2012 they got the right conditions and managed a recorded run of 59.23 knots.

But it was not over there, as they quickly upped that 59.37 knots before finally obliterating the record to set a new speed sailing record of 65.45 knots.

This is the record that stands today 10 years on. It’s a significant legacy, and one which has not been close to being beaten for many years.

But technology is always moving forward and the history of the speed sailing record tends to be that of long periods of no activity before a flurry of new records push it ever higher.

There are already teams talking of 80 knots in the future, with two challengers launching boats soon. Watch this space…

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

• Engineering

The SP80 sailboat, a sleek and futuristic trimaran, has recently hit the water for testing, aiming to set new benchmarks in sailing speed. Aiming to shatter the decade-long standing record of 65.37 knots (75.23 mph or 121.06 km/h), set by Paul Larsen in the Vestas Sailrocket II in 2012, the SP80 team is pursuing an ambitious target of 81 knots (93 mph or 150 km/h). This bold undertaking involves unique design and engineering strategies, making the SP80 one of the most innovative sailboats on the water today.

A radical approach to sailing

Unlike traditional sailboats that rely on rigid masts and sails, which pose a risk of capsizing when pushed to extreme speeds, the SP80 employs a radically different approach. Instead of conventional sails, the SP80 uses a large kite attached to the boat by a strong line. This setup allows the boat to harness wind power more effectively without the risk of rolling over, a common issue with rigid masts when exposed to high winds.

The SP80 is designed as a trimaran, a type of boat featuring three hulls. Its main focus is to keep all three hulls in contact with the water, minimizing the risk of capsizing due to high-speed airflow. The 10.5-meter (34.4-foot) trimaran accommodates two crew members seated in tandem. The rear seat occupant is responsible for managing the kite via a control arm located behind the cabin, while the front seat occupant handles the steering. This strategic distribution of tasks ensures optimal control over both speed and direction.

Testing and performance evaluation

The SP80 team conducted a series of tests on Lake Geneva last year, where the boat achieved speeds of 30 knots while being towed by a support vessel. This initial testing phase aimed to measure drag and validate the team’s computer-modeled predictions against real-world performance data. The results from these tests are crucial for fine-tuning the boat’s design and enhancing its speed capabilities.

Following these drag tests, the SP80 team is gradually progressing towards deploying the kite system under real sailing conditions. The team plans to start with smaller kites and incrementally increase their size and power, which will subsequently enhance the boat’s speed. This phased approach allows the team to systematically identify and address any design or performance issues before attempting to break the world speed record.

Innovative design features

The SP80’s design is not just about functionality but also aesthetics. The trimaran’s sleek, elegant lines give it a futuristic appearance that sets it apart from conventional sailboats. Some have likened its design to something out of a science fiction movie, with a silver reskin and a backdrop reminiscent of a distant galaxy.

This visual appeal, however, does not detract from its core objective: to break the world sailing speed record. The design elements, including the three hulls, the tandem seating, and the kite system, all contribute to achieving this goal by providing stability, control, and efficient wind harnessing capabilities.

The path ahead

While the SP80 has shown promise in its initial testing phases, there is still a long road ahead. The team must continue to refine and optimize the design to achieve the desired speed of 81 knots. This involves not only enhancing the kite system and hull design but also conducting rigorous testing under various wind and water conditions.

The SP80 team is optimistic about their chances of breaking the world record, and their innovative approach to sailboat design has already set them apart in the competitive world of speed sailing. As they continue their efforts, the sailing community watches with keen interest, eager to see if the SP80 can indeed achieve what many have considered impossible.

Source: SP80

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Next steps: sync an email add-on.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails.

RELATED ARTICLES

Otter: the electric bike for water adventures, saudi’s neom mega-project welcomes a fleet of electric foiling water taxis, extraordinary semi-submersible watercraft for safe underwater exploration, 55-ft solar-electric catamaran built using scrap metal, supmaran: use as two stand-up paddleboards or combine into a catamaran, hybrid-electric catamaran resembles a sports car on water, space capsule mobile homes offer flexible living anytime, anywhere, parallel systems’ autonomous-electric rail freight technology, rubishack: a motorized tiny house built for adventure, compact stand-up bike offers a fun and effective full-body workout.

• Privacy Policy

New electric sports hovercraft is fast, quiet, and it looks like...

The Sealegs 9.0m Hydrasol RIB: A deep dive into amphibious adventures