The SP80 has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the 50-knot barrier, reaching a top speed of 51+ knots (95 km/h). This makes it one of the few sailboats to cross this iconic threshold.
The team is focused on breaking the world sailing speed record, currently held by Paul Larsen's Vestas Sailrocket II at 65.45 knots (121 km/h). They aim for this goal before the summer of 2025.
Benoît Gaudiot, the kite pilot aboard SP80, remarked, “This run above 50 knots allowed us to finally observe the behaviour of our foil in a speed range that remains largely unexplored in the world of sailing.” He added that they slowed the boat before hitting 52 knots as a precaution but had promising data.
SP80 is also focusing on average speed. The current record is measured over 500 meters. Recently, the boat achieved an average speed of 41.358 knots (76 km/h) within just five days of sailing.
Pilot Mayeul van den Broek stated, “The boat is now close to its full technical potential.” He highlighted the need for further sailing to master the boat’s behaviour.
The team plans its first official record attempts in spring 2025, aiming to break records at their usual sailing location in Leucate, Occitanie.
