Reaching 80 knots under sail
Under construction since summer 2021 this futuristic boat, 10 meters long and 7 meters wide, will have two pilots on board. This "rocket of the seas" will be launched at the end of 2022 with the first record attempts planned for the summer of 2023. Already sponsored by the Swiss watch brand Richard Mille, SP80 is launching a campaign to find a final group of sponsors, mostly Swiss.
This spaceship-like sailboat was designed to reach 80 knots and shatter the current record of 65.45 knots, or 121 km/h, achieved in 2012 by Vestas Sailrocket 2. Antoine Albeau also tried this, but in windsurfing . He is currently developing a specific board.
A concept now ready to be unveiled
For confidentiality reasons, the Swiss company has so far only shown a concept that allows viewers to understand the principles of the boat's operation, without revealing any final elements. Today, the construction has reached a stage where the team is finally ready to reveal the final concept.
If the basic principle remains the same âeuros a kind of non-flying boat (for safety) towed by a kite âeuros the boat will finally be bigger than the initial concept. The shape will also be sleeker, with elongated and aggressive lines. Other elements have also been refined to increase the stability of the structure, a strategic point in this record attempt. The wing is still under development. Several sizes will be developed, from 35 to 40 m 2 depending on the conditions.
Two drivers for the record
The main hull completed by the Persico Marine shipyard will arrive in April at the SP80 premises in Renens, Switzerland. This first element reveals a novelty, a cockpit designed for two people. One will pilot the kite and the other will steer the boat.
"Very early in the development phase, it was clear that being alone on board was not an option to safely reach speeds of 80 knots. At 150 km/h, it is essential to concentrate on a single task. We will have a pilot at the controls of the kite and a co-pilot who will manage the course of the boat. However, at low speed âeuros about 30 knots âeuros it is possible to sail solo. We will be able to welcome on board passengers to make them live something extraordinary" explains Benoît Gaudiot, co-founder and pilot.
Maximum protection
At such speeds, it is essential to ensure maximum safety for the pilots. The cockpit has been designed to withstand accelerations of up to 50 G. It has also been reinforced with Kevlar to protect its occupants from possible carbon shards in case of a crash. As in Formula 1, the drivers will be equipped accordingly: bucket seats, 6-point harnesses and helmets. In case of emergency, they will also have oxygen masks at their disposal.
Launch scheduled for late 2022
Work continues on the beam and floats and the team will integrate all the mechanical systems into the main hull. The final assembly of the boat is planned for the fall of 2022 with a launch scheduled before the end of the year. After a few months of optimization and testing, the first record attempts will take place in the summer of 2023 in the South of France.
