TOP SPEED 58 KNOTS
SP80 SMASHES THE 100 KM/H BARRIER
May 27, 2025
The SP80 kiteboat has reached a top speed of over 58 knots, or 108 km/h. This new personal best makes SP80 the second fastest sailboat ever recorded, behind Vestas Sailrocket II and its 68.01-knot top speed. While peak speeds are not used for official world record certification, this performance confirms the boatʼs potential: SP80 is now faster than the most advanced sailboats in the world, from the AC75s of the Americaʼs Cup to the F50s on the SailGP circuit.
TOP SPEED: 58.261 KNOTS (108 KM/H)
In May, the boat shattered its previous personnal best of 52 knots, reaching 58.261 knots (108 km/h). This performance exceeds the top speeds recorded by the worldʼs fastest racing sailboats: 55.6 knots for the AC75s of the Americaʼs Cup, and 55.06 knots for the F50s on the SailGP circuit.
This progress is no accident—the team has since logged multiple runs between 55 and 58 knots, sometimes in less-than-ideal wind conditions.
“This is a major milestone for the entire team. Very few sailboats in history have broken the 100 km/h barrier, and we’re now tangibly closing in on our ultimate goal. What’s especially encouraging is being able to repeat those speeds multiple times throughout the week. It confirms not only the boat’s reliability, but also its capacity to go even faster. From here, the work continues: analyzing the data on land, and refining our handling on the water as soon as the wind allows.”
The short-term objective for SP80 is clear: hold these speeds over 500 meters, as only the average speed over this distance is eligible for official world record certification.
“We know the boat’s potential—now it’s up to us to become more precise in our handling. We’re discovering how the boat behaves beyond 100 km/h and learning to control it. This week, we came close several times to averaging 50 knots over 500 meters. It’s naturally a bit frustrating to end the week at 48.6, but we know it’s only a matter of time. Every run helps us improve, and our coordination with Mayeul is sharpening with each outing.”
48.645 KNOTS OVER 500 METERS:
WE’RE CLOSING IN ON OUR FIRST RECORD ATTEMPTS
With an average of 48.645 knots (90 km/h) over 500 meters, we are now within reach of official records that could be certified by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council).
The first targets are category records, including:
- 50.07 knots average – Macquarie Innovation (2009), world record in Category C (sail area between 21 and 27 m²)
- 51.36 knots average – l’Hydroptère (2009), world record in Category D (sail area over 27 m²)
Both of these milestones could fall in the coming weeks, allowing us to officially add our name to the list of world sailing speed record holders.
Our ultimate ambition remains unchanged: to break the absolute world speed sailing record set by Paul Larsen aboard Vestas Sailrocket II, with an average of 65.45 knots over 500 meters.
That means SP80 still needs to gain 16 knots — a formidable challenge, but one we’re ready to take on with everything we’ve got!
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