In a bid to break the world sailing speed record, two unconventional sailboats have hit the water for testing. The SP80 and Syroco teams have developed remarkable vessels that are designed to reach unprecedented speeds, resembling alien spaceships and propelled by ultra-fast kites instead of traditional sails on masts.
The current world sailing speed record, set by Paul Larsen in 2012 with the Vestas Sailrocket II, stands at 65.37 knots (75.23 mph/121.06 km/h). However, the use of rigid masts in traditional sailboats provides excellent leverage but also increases the risk of capsizing when attempting to harness strong wind power. That is why no one has been able to surpass Larsen’s record.
Undeterred by this challenge, both the SP80 and Syroco teams have set their sights on breaking the record and have taken radically different approaches. With a target speed of 81 knots (93 mph/150 km/h), they are using enormous kites attached to the boats on robust lines to maintain stability and avoid capsizing. Since their initial designs were first examined in 2021, both teams have come a long way in refining their vessels.
The SP80, with its sleek and elegant trimaran design, could easily win a beauty contest. The 10.5-meter (34.4-ft) boat can accommodate two people in tandem, with one person controlling the kite attached to a control arm behind the cabin, and the other steering the vessel. The design is specifically focused on keeping all three hulls in contact with the water to prevent flipping at high speeds. In August, the SP80 team conducted drag measurements on Lake Geneva, achieving a speed of 30 knots while being towed behind a boat.
Meanwhile, the Syroco team has taken a completely different approach, referring to their creation as a “weightless yacht.” Essentially, it consists of a kite attached to a line, which is connected to a hydrofoil wing submerged in the water. As the foil and the kite pull against each other, the line becomes taut. The boat itself is a shark-shaped hull and cabin, suspended a few meters above the water. This unconventional design features a flexible high-tension line connecting the hull and foil, rather than a traditional solid support.
Hydrofoils, however, face their own speed limitations due to cavitation. This phenomenon occurs when the hydrofoil wing creates a high-pressure zone on one side and a low-pressure zone on the other. The low-pressure zone can lead to the vaporization of water, resulting in significant drag. The Syroco team has been working on overcoming this challenge and has had prototypes flying since late 2021. While the current testing is conducted with low wind speeds, the vessel’s stability raises concerns as it relies solely on wind power.
Both the SP80 and Syroco teams will continue fine-tuning, tweaking, and accelerating their designs as they strive to push the boundaries of speed. It is an exciting time with two well-resourced and innovative teams vying for the world sailing speed record.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
