In Port-Leucate, the SP80, a prototype pulled by a kite wing, aims to beat the world sailing speed record. This futuristic boat could also revolutionize maritime transport by helping cargo ships consume less fuel.
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In Port-Leucate (Aude), a curious ship attracts attention: the SP80, a futuristic prototype pulled by a kite wing, which aims to beat the world sailing speed record in spring 2025.
With a trimaran-type hull, a double cockpit inspired by fighter planes, an articulated arm and a kite wing as a mast, this extraordinary boat is designed for speed. It is the work of a Franco-Swiss team, made up in particular of engineering students from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in Switzerland.
This aerial photograph shows pilots Mayeul van den Broek and Benoit Gaudiot sailing the futuristic Swiss boat “SP80” on December 9, 2024, off the coast of Port La Nouvelle.
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© PABLO COZZAGLIO / AFP
At the beginning of December, the SP80, which measures 11 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, completed a week of intensive tests in Port-Leucate. During these tests, it reached a speed of 27 knots (around 50 km/h), still far from the record set in 2012 by Australian Paul Larsen, at 65.45 knots (121.06 km/h).
However, this prototype has already shown great promise: in the summer of 2024, it had recorded a speed of 43 knots (80 km/h). But with a foil that had only been designed to travel at 40 knots, explains Laura Manon, communications manager for the SP80 company. The new foil, designed for much higher speeds, still requires precise adjustments.
Swiss pilots Mayeul van den Broek and Benoit Gaudiot wait on board while their teammates prepare to sail the futuristic Swiss boat “SP80” off the coast of Port-la-Nouvelle.
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© LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP
The main innovation of the SP80 lies in the use of a kite wing, similar to those used in paragliding, which generates more traction thanks to the wind. This device, coupled with the foil – a sort of supporting wing allowing the boat to levitate above the water – could offer a decisive advantage in the quest for speed.
“The objective is already to get this record. Afterwards, the boat was designed to go at an average speed of 80 knots, so that is the long term objective.“, confides Benoît Gaudiot, one of the two pilots and co-founders of the SP80 project.
On board, the two pilots, Mayeul van den Broek and Benoît Gaudiot, share the roles: one steers the ship while the other maneuvers the wing. They will have to maintain an average speed above 65.45 knots over 500 meters to make history.
If the priority is to achieve the world record in spring 2025, SP80’s ambitions do not stop there. The company is already planning to transfer its innovations to maritime transport, including using kite sails to power cargo ships. This technology could help reduce fuel consumption and the environmental impact of merchant shipping.
With its futuristic lines and promising performance, the SP80 embodies the avant-garde of ever faster and more durable sailing. An adventure to follow closely.
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