The World Sailing Speed Record

1972
The year that the World Sailing Speed Record is officialised, and its council, the WSSRC, is created to ratify every attempt. A strict set of regulations is standardised to retain the quintessential values of the sport. The first bar is set at 26,30 knots (48,71 km/h), and the quest for the fastest ever sailboat is underway!
A great number of contenders have taken on the record in its lifetime, but only 12 have managed to improve it. Each of these challengers left their mark on the way we design our boats today. And we count SP80 as a part of their legacy.
12
65,45
The current speed record sits at 65,45 knots (121,21 km/h) over 500 meters, and was claimed by Paul Larsen’s Vestas Sailrocket II in 2012. We hold a deep respect for this marvelous accomplishment, and fully intend to smash it by 2025.
At our target speed, a 100 metre stretch of water will zip beneath our pilot’s feet in 2,43 seconds.
2,43

The history

A story of legendary boats and sailors

©KEYSTONE Pictures USA

Crossbow - 26,30 knots (48,71 km/h)

1972 – Portland, United Kingdom

October 1972 on the Isle of Portland; Weymouth’s annual Speed Week has gathered a number of experimental boats, and the contenders are eager to show off their speedy machines. The course against which they are measured is a 500m run, simply because a mile does not fit in the venue. The Crossbow and its 4-man crew come out ahead of the bunch, finishing their run in under 37 seconds, thereby logging the first World Speed Sailing Record, as well as cementing the 500m run as the official benchmark.

1972 2025

A unique visibility in the sailing world

The World Sailing Speed Record gets the most attention in the sport because it is not restricted to a single discipline. What’s more, this record has a global impact and goes beyond the boundaries of the sailing world.

Join the quest !
« Just like with the sound barrier, once you’re through, you’re through, and the equation for doing 100 knots or greater will have been written. »

Paul Larsen, current World Sailing Speed Record holder