SP80 IN NAMIBIA?
NEW CHALLENGE AFTER LEUCATE
September 25, 2025
After two years of fine-tuning in Leucate (France), the SP80 team is preparing to take a decisive new step in its quest for the world sailing speed record. Despite a proven boat and a fully committed team, the weather conditions in spring 2025 did not allow the record to be broken during their first official record campaign. Today, a new objective has been set: SP80 will target the world sailing speed record in Walvis Bay, Namibia, starting in September 2026.
TWO YEARS OF LEARNING IN LEUCATE
When we arrived in Occitanie in autumn 2023, the boat had yet to sail. Two years later, we leave with a boat ranked among the worldʼs five fastest sailing boats, with peak speeds of 108 km/h (58.2 knots).
Leucate has been the perfect training ground, because we were able to sail extensively in a wide variety of conditions.
It was invaluable because we were exploring a completely new way of sailing and we had to learn everything, from launching and landing our giant kites to piloting safely at extreme speeds.
On the technical side, we had an incredible support from the city of Leucate, the Grand Narbonne Agglomération, but also the city of Port-La Nouvelle and our many local partners. Thanks to them, we were able to react quickly and upgrade the boat between sailing sessions, bringing it close to its full speed potential.
By spring 2025, the boat had proven both its reliability and speed, coming close to category world records. However, insufficient wind prevented us from making the final leap to the outright record.
We are ending this campaign without the record we hoped for, but with one certainty: our boat is far from having reached its limits.
“Itʼs a disappointment, but also proof that weʼre entering a new phase of the challenge. The priority is no longer sailing as often as possible to learn, but rather finding the perfect record-breaking conditions, and being ready the day they arrive. Over the past months, weʼve had many discussions with Paul Larsen, the current world record holder, who followed a very similar path with his team back in 2012. Those conversations always lead to the same conclusion: if you want the perfect weather conditions, Walvis Bay in Namibia is without a doubt the best place on earth.”
TARGET 2026 : WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA
Walvis Bay is legendary in the world of sailing speed records. It was here that Paul Larsen set the current world record in 2012 with Vestas Sailrocket II: 65.45 knots (121 km/h). Renowned for its exceptional wind and water conditions, the spot offers an ideal weather window between September and December.
“Namibia has been a mecca for speed sailing ever since the first kite records were set there in 2008, so the idea was always in the back of our minds. But going straight there at boat launch would have been far too premature. We first needed to learn how to master the boat and set up all the logistics surrounding each run. Today, we are ready to open this new chapter, even if we know that the logistical and financial challenges are immense. Above all, this pursuit of the record is a lesson in resilience!”
A NEW LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGE
We are fortunate to rely on the continuous support of our current partners, but this next chapter in Namibia will not be possible without additional fundings. We are thus looking for new partners ready to join the adventure.
“The timing is ideal: today we have a mature boat with demonstrated speed and reliability, and the Namibian campaign will likely mark the culmination of over seven years of work with a world record at stake. The last outright sailing speed record was set in 2012: these opportunities are rare, and they promise major global exposure.”
Between now and summer 2026, the streamlined core team will focus exclusively on preparing every detail of the Namibian campaign, with the goal of being fully operational in Walvis Bay by September 2026.
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