09/2009 –

l’Hydroptère: the fastest sailing boat on the planet 51.36 knots, the new absolute speed record over 500 meters (subject to ratification from the WSSRC).

On friday Sept. the4th,   l’Hydroptère established the new absolute sailing speed record over 500 meters in Hyères harbour (subject to ratification from the WSSRC). By a 28-knot west wind , Alain Thébault and his crew took full advantage of the flying trimaran’s potential and earned the title of the fastest sailing craft on the planet. With a top speed of 55.5 knots (103 km/h) and an average speed of 51.36 knots, today l’Hydroptère takes her place in the history of sailing.

After the attempts in 2008 (read also our article), only one day in 2009 was enough for Alain Thébault and his crew, Anders Bringdal, Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon, François Cazala, Damien Colegrave, Stéphane Dyen, Matt Hodgson, Jérémie Lagarrigue, Pierre Trémouille, Gérard Navarin and Jacques Vincent to fine-tune l’Hydroptère and beat this record.

After this tremendous success, l’Hydroptère team is alreday dreaming of new projects. Sailing at the helm of the boat configured as before for open seas and taking on long distance records is clearly the team’s most immediate challenge. Thus l’Hydroptère is the only sailing boat capable of beating the absolute sailing speed record and of sailing in open seas.

Photo Credit: Gilles Martin Raget

– CP –