Alain Thébault, founder of the l’Hydroptère project which currently owns the world speed sailing record after recording an average speed of 50.17 knots over one nautical mile, has decided to raise the bar to a rather astronomical level. He and his team have announced this week plans to design and build a sailboat capable of exceeding 80 knots of boat speed.
WATCH: 60+ Knots in a Sailboat
In a statement on their website, Hydroptère notes this 2-person proa “could enable sailing to definitely enter the ‘super-cavitation’ era, the equivalent of supersonic speed for aircrafts.”
No further details are yet available, however it seems like the new design will be strikingly similar to the VESTAS Sailrocket, which currently holds the outright speed record of 59.38 knots. Watch their record-breaking video HERE.
Hydroptère is supported by naval architects from VPLP (designers of BMW ORACLE and Banque Populaire V) and the structural engineering office HDS (Artemis Racing, Volvo Ocean Race Groupama Racing, MOD70).