Performance beyond 50 knots
Passing the 50-knot mark represents a major step forward for SP80. According to Benoît Gaudiot, kite pilot:
"This first run in excess of 50 knots enabled us to observe the behavior of the foil in a speed range as yet little explored in the world of sailing".
Caution, however, led the team to slow the boat down before reaching 52 knots, but the data indicate an encouraging stability for further testing.
The average speed challenge
Far from limiting itself to speed peaks, the SP80 team is working on optimizing trajectories to improve average speed over 500 meters, an essential condition for record validation. In February 2025, the boat reached an average speed of 41.35 knots over this distance, marking a meteoric rise in just five days of sailing since January. For Mayeul van den Broek, the boat's pilot:
"The boat is now close to 100% of its technical potential. All we need now is time on the water to unleash her full speed.
Towards a first record attempt
The SP80 team plans to make its first record attempts in the spring of 2025 at Leucate, a site renowned for its steady, powerful winds. With another 25 knots to gain to beat the current record, the challenge remains immense. However, the progress made and the confidence shown by the team point to a significant breakthrough in the world of sailing speed.
Technical innovation and perseverance will be the keys to SP80 becoming the fastest sailing boat in history. The ultimate goal? To exceed 100 km/h on the water and set a new standard for sailing speed.
