SP80's sailboat towed by a kite aims to break speed records

THE SP80 BOAT AIMS TO REACH 80 KNOTS (150 KM/H)

After revealing some teasers, SP80 has unveiled its final boat design. Set to break the world sailing speed record, the sea rocket aims to reach 80 knots (150 km/h) powered by the wind. While the principles remain the same — a sailboat toed by a kite — the boat will be bigger than the initial concept and will have a sleeker shape and stretched, aggressive lines. The cockpit will feature room for two.

‘Very early in our development face, it was clear that being alone on board was not an option to accelerate safely up to 80 knots,’ said Benoît Gaudiot, co-founder and pilot. ‘At 150 km/h, it is essential to be focused on one task! We will thus have a pilot steering the kite, while a co-pilot will ensure the boat’s trajectory. However, at low speeds, that is around 30 knots, the boat can be sailed solo, which will allow us to welcome passengers onboard to experience something extraordinary.’

images by SP80

THE COCKPIT HAS ROOM FOR TWO – ONE MANEUVERS THE KITE, THE OTHER STEERS

Built by renowned shipyard Persico Marine, the boat’s design has been refined to increase the stability of the structure; a key point in the record-breaking strategy defended by SP80. With room for two, the cockpit allows one pilot to maneuver the kite while the other steers the boat. This space has been designed to withstand acceleration of up to 5G, and it has been reinforced with Kevlar® to protect its occupants from possible carbon shards in the event of a crash.

A boat sailing at 150km/h on water is equivalent to a Formula 1 on land. Therefore, the drivers will be equipped with bucket seats, 6 point-harnesses and helmets. Oxygen masks will also be at their disposal, a never-before-seen in the sailing world.

The final assembly of the boat is scheduled for next autumn with its official launch before the end of 2022. The first record attempts will take place in summer 2023 in the south of France.

sponsored by Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille