All our articles
Designing unique kites for the world sailing speed record
We tell you about our challenge to design kites for the world record, custom-made to tow our boat at 150km/h!
Navigations: a day on the water with the team
The team now spends most of its time in the south of France to be on the water as often as the conditions allow it! How does a day of testing unfold? How long does it take to set up a run? How many runs can we fit in a day of testing?
Launching on Lake Geneva for the SP80 boat
It’s done! Our little rocket has left the workshop and hit the water for the first time. In addition to being the culmination of years of work, this launch is the first step of a new adventure: after years behind our screens, it’s time to get practical!
BMW Switzerland, new sponsor for the world record
BMW Switzerland joins the quest for the world sailing speed record as financial sponsor and official car supplier, supporting the team with two BMW plug-in hybrid cars.
SP80 UNVEILED: Discover our boat for the first time!
After two years of construction, our unique boat is finally complete and will make its first foray on the water this summer in the south of France.
What if you could see it before that?
SP80 announces the official venue for the world record
The town of Leucate and the Agglomeration of Grand Narbonne will become SP80’s official venue for the team’s training and future record attempts.
The construction process : from pictures to the final boat (#4)
The different steps of construction from mold creations to the final assembly of our record-breaking boat.
Aderco, new Official Supporter of the SP80 journey
Aderco becomes an Official Supporter of SP80, chasing the world sailing speed record! For SP80, this partnership allows to foresee confidently the first navigations of its boat to reach 80 knots (150km/h).
SP80 proudly sees its talents working for the America’s cup
One of SP80’s first missions is to train a new generation of engineers, offering them the possibility to work on a revolutionary challenge while studying at EPFL. Well, goal achieved! We’re super proud to see old members of our team thriving today with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the Swiss Challenger for the 37th America’s Cup!
Gin Kiteboarding becomes SP80’s Official Supplier for the World Sailing Speed Record
Extraordinary kites for an extraordinary boat!
After launching its record-breaking project back in 2019 and beginning construction of the boat in 2021, SP80 is collaborating with Gin Kiteboarding to develop tailored kites.
The construction process: from pictures to the final boat (#3)
In this series of articles, we will show you the different production steps, from mold creations to the final assembly of parts, necessary to the construction of our record-breaking boat.
The construction process: from pictures to the final boat (#2)
In this series of articles, we will show you the different production steps, from mold creations to the final assembly of parts, necessary to the construction of our record-breaking boat.
The construction process: from pictures to the final boat (#1)
In this series of articles, we will show you the different production steps, from mold creations to the final assembly of parts, necessary to the construction of our record-breaking boat.
SP80 unveils final boat design in pursuit of the world sailing speed record
The “sea rocket” will be launched at the end of the year, with the first record attempts planned for the summer of 2023.
Finding our vision in an ocean of possibilities
In this article series, Xavier Lepercq, SP80 co-founder and technical manager, shares his thoughts on boat design, speed sailing, and the world speed record. Reaching 80 knots on the water with the wind as sole source of power is an incredible technical challenge. The pursuit to break the world speed record has led him to question architectural codes that are currently the standard within the sailing world.
Our design to break the World Sailing Speed Record
Beating his record is already a fabulous challenge, and we have set the even more ambitious goal of being the first to sail at 80 knots (about 150 km/h)! This new year is an opportunity to recall the main concepts behind our extraordinary boat.
Focus on foils and superventilation
Since the beginning of the SP80 adventure, optimization and research on superventilating hydrofoils are at the heart of the project and mobilize many resources. Let’s focus on our researches to go beyond the wall of cavitation!
Forum EPFL, a strong support for our students
For the past two years, Europe’s largest recruitment fair, Forum EPFL, has been committed to support students’ projects related to SP80 and the quest to beat the world sailing speed record.As educational training has always been at the heart of our adventure, it is crucial for us that our students carry out their academic projects in the best possible conditions.
Recap of 2 years pursuing the world sailing speed record
Neuchâtel, 21.10.2019. Xavier, Benoît and Mayeul officially unveiled the SP80 project. In their hands, a miniature of the boat that could one day beat the world sailing speed record: the extraordinary adventure was officially on track!
Infographics: How do we shape our boat?
After 40’000+ hours of design, we are finally building our little rocket! The first tests on the water will take place in 2022…are you excited ? We are too !
In the meantime, here are the main construction steps.
SP80 starts building the boat to break the record with Persico Marine
SP80 starts building the boat to break the world record with the italian key player. The first sail will take place in 2022!
Mechanical design: printing metal parts thanks to 3D Precision SA
Onboard the SP80 boat, there is no room for the irrelevant. Each part is carefully studied and optimised to fulfill the task for which it was designed…
RICHARD MILLE teams up with SP80 to break the World Sailing Speed Record !
Richard Mille is delighted to be supporting Swiss team SP80 in its latest challenge: to break the
World Sailing Speed Record in 2022.
Interview with Don Montague
Kitesurfing pioneer and born inventor, Don Montague held a discussion with SP80 team, sharing his experience and learned about our project to break the world speed sailing record: a stirring and instructive exchange!
Optimization of ventilated hydrofoils thanks to ANSYS Fluent, CADFEM and artificial intelligence
SP80 aims to reach 80 knots (93 mph) and thus break the World Sailing Speed Record, only powered by the wind. To achieve this goal, the usual sailing codes have to be rethought, especially the hydrodynamic part of the appendages…
Over a year’s partnership with P&TS! Review of an invaluable collaboration for SP80
In October 2019, the SP80 project was revealed to the public at the Théâtre du Passage in Neuchâtel at the occasion of the P&TS company’s 20th anniversary. Today, the partnership…
Interview with Martin Fischer
We had the privilege of meeting with a figure widely regarded as a point person for the sailing world, and a leading authority on flying boats: Martin Fischer. . He offered his point of view on the progression of foils today and his thoughts on SP80…
Inside the mind of Xavier #1 | What if making boats fly is a dead end ?
From concept to mature technology, the development of foils and foiling boats spans 139 years. The French engineer Emmanuel Denis Farcot was the first, in 1869, to imagine boats able to lift off the water. The first successful foiling…
The Swiss challenger in pursuit of the World Sailing Speed Record helms its first prototype
How do you build a prototype when the world has stopped turning and everyone has to stay at home? As the first confinement measures were being announced in March of 2020, nobody at SP80 really had an answer to this question…
The construction of our reduced model: our partners’ valuable assistance during the pandemic
How do you build a prototype when the world has stopped turning and everyone has to stay at home? As the first confinement measures were being announced in March of 2020, nobody at SP80 really had an answer to this question…
From cars to boats, a journey through complex systems design
Being able to work remotely and efficiently has become a prior challenge for every company, especially while facing the current situation we are all living in. Dassault Systèmes has made this objective a reality…
SP80’s partnership with Orca3D and Simerics: a step towards hull’s optimization
While the world is tearing apart due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, our team is still working as hard as before to keep the three years SP80 project objectives…
SP80: Award-winning design
Yesterday, 20th of February, the SP80 project was presented with the 2019 Design Foiling Award at the prize giving ceremony held in Milan, Italy…
Designing unique kites for the world sailing speed record
We tell you about our challenge to design kites for the world record, custom-made to tow our boat at 150km/h!
Navigations: a day on the water with the team
The team now spends most of its time in the south of France to be on the water as often as the conditions allow it! How does a day of testing unfold? How long does it take to set up a run? How many runs can we fit in a day of testing?
Launching on Lake Geneva for the SP80 boat
It’s done! Our little rocket has left the workshop and hit the water for the first time. In addition to being the culmination of years of work, this launch is the first step of a new adventure: after years behind our screens, it’s time to get practical!
BMW Switzerland, new sponsor for the world record
BMW Switzerland joins the quest for the world sailing speed record as financial sponsor and official car supplier, supporting the team with two BMW plug-in hybrid cars.
SP80 UNVEILED: Discover our boat for the first time!
After two years of construction, our unique boat is finally complete and will make its first foray on the water this summer in the south of France.
What if you could see it before that?
SP80 announces the official venue for the world record
The town of Leucate and the Agglomeration of Grand Narbonne will become SP80’s official venue for the team’s training and future record attempts.
The construction process : from pictures to the final boat (#4)
The different steps of construction from mold creations to the final assembly of our record-breaking boat.
Aderco, new Official Supporter of the SP80 journey
Aderco becomes an Official Supporter of SP80, chasing the world sailing speed record! For SP80, this partnership allows to foresee confidently the first navigations of its boat to reach 80 knots (150km/h).
SP80 proudly sees its talents working for the America’s cup
One of SP80’s first missions is to train a new generation of engineers, offering them the possibility to work on a revolutionary challenge while studying at EPFL. Well, goal achieved! We’re super proud to see old members of our team thriving today with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the Swiss Challenger for the 37th America’s Cup!
Gin Kiteboarding becomes SP80’s Official Supplier for the World Sailing Speed Record
Extraordinary kites for an extraordinary boat!
After launching its record-breaking project back in 2019 and beginning construction of the boat in 2021, SP80 is collaborating with Gin Kiteboarding to develop tailored kites.
The construction process: from pictures to the final boat (#3)
In this series of articles, we will show you the different production steps, from mold creations to the final assembly of parts, necessary to the construction of our record-breaking boat.
The construction process: from pictures to the final boat (#2)
In this series of articles, we will show you the different production steps, from mold creations to the final assembly of parts, necessary to the construction of our record-breaking boat.
The construction process: from pictures to the final boat (#1)
In this series of articles, we will show you the different production steps, from mold creations to the final assembly of parts, necessary to the construction of our record-breaking boat.
SP80 unveils final boat design in pursuit of the world sailing speed record
The “sea rocket” will be launched at the end of the year, with the first record attempts planned for the summer of 2023.
Finding our vision in an ocean of possibilities
In this article series, Xavier Lepercq, SP80 co-founder and technical manager, shares his thoughts on boat design, speed sailing, and the world speed record. Reaching 80 knots on the water with the wind as sole source of power is an incredible technical challenge. The pursuit to break the world speed record has led him to question architectural codes that are currently the standard within the sailing world.
Our design to break the World Sailing Speed Record
Beating his record is already a fabulous challenge, and we have set the even more ambitious goal of being the first to sail at 80 knots (about 150 km/h)! This new year is an opportunity to recall the main concepts behind our extraordinary boat.
Focus on foils and superventilation
Since the beginning of the SP80 adventure, optimization and research on superventilating hydrofoils are at the heart of the project and mobilize many resources. Let’s focus on our researches to go beyond the wall of cavitation!
Forum EPFL, a strong support for our students
For the past two years, Europe’s largest recruitment fair, Forum EPFL, has been committed to support students’ projects related to SP80 and the quest to beat the world sailing speed record.As educational training has always been at the heart of our adventure, it is crucial for us that our students carry out their academic projects in the best possible conditions.
Recap of 2 years pursuing the world sailing speed record
Neuchâtel, 21.10.2019. Xavier, Benoît and Mayeul officially unveiled the SP80 project. In their hands, a miniature of the boat that could one day beat the world sailing speed record: the extraordinary adventure was officially on track!
Infographics: How do we shape our boat?
After 40’000+ hours of design, we are finally building our little rocket! The first tests on the water will take place in 2022…are you excited ? We are too !
In the meantime, here are the main construction steps.
SP80 starts building the boat to break the record with Persico Marine
SP80 starts building the boat to break the world record with the italian key player. The first sail will take place in 2022!
Mechanical design: printing metal parts thanks to 3D Precision SA
Onboard the SP80 boat, there is no room for the irrelevant. Each part is carefully studied and optimised to fulfill the task for which it was designed…
RICHARD MILLE teams up with SP80 to break the World Sailing Speed Record !
Richard Mille is delighted to be supporting Swiss team SP80 in its latest challenge: to break the
World Sailing Speed Record in 2022.
Interview with Don Montague
Kitesurfing pioneer and born inventor, Don Montague held a discussion with SP80 team, sharing his experience and learned about our project to break the world speed sailing record: a stirring and instructive exchange!
Optimization of ventilated hydrofoils thanks to ANSYS Fluent, CADFEM and artificial intelligence
SP80 aims to reach 80 knots (93 mph) and thus break the World Sailing Speed Record, only powered by the wind. To achieve this goal, the usual sailing codes have to be rethought, especially the hydrodynamic part of the appendages…
Over a year’s partnership with P&TS! Review of an invaluable collaboration for SP80
In October 2019, the SP80 project was revealed to the public at the Théâtre du Passage in Neuchâtel at the occasion of the P&TS company’s 20th anniversary. Today, the partnership…
Interview with Martin Fischer
We had the privilege of meeting with a figure widely regarded as a point person for the sailing world, and a leading authority on flying boats: Martin Fischer. . He offered his point of view on the progression of foils today and his thoughts on SP80…
Inside the mind of Xavier #1 | What if making boats fly is a dead end ?
From concept to mature technology, the development of foils and foiling boats spans 139 years. The French engineer Emmanuel Denis Farcot was the first, in 1869, to imagine boats able to lift off the water. The first successful foiling…
The Swiss challenger in pursuit of the World Sailing Speed Record helms its first prototype
How do you build a prototype when the world has stopped turning and everyone has to stay at home? As the first confinement measures were being announced in March of 2020, nobody at SP80 really had an answer to this question…
The construction of our reduced model: our partners’ valuable assistance during the pandemic
How do you build a prototype when the world has stopped turning and everyone has to stay at home? As the first confinement measures were being announced in March of 2020, nobody at SP80 really had an answer to this question…
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