The Swiss-led SP80 project has reached a major milestone in its quest to shatter the world sailing speed record. On May 20, 2025, the cutting-edge kiteboat hit a peak speed of 58.261 knots (108 km/h / 67 mph), surpassing even the fastest racing yachts of the America’s Cup and SailGP circuits.
This new personal best places SP80 as the second fastest sailing vessel ever recorded, behind only Paul Larsen’s legendary Vestas Sailrocket II, which holds the current world record with an average of 65.45 knots over 500 meters.
A Leap in Performance
After several weeks of testing at speeds near 50 knots, the SP80 team returned to the shed in early May for a round of optimizations. The results were immediate and impressive: within just two test runs, the boat smashed its previous record of 52 knots. More importantly, the team has since repeated runs in the 55–58 knot range, even in suboptimal conditions—proof of both performance and reliability.
“This is a major milestone for the entire team,” said Mayeul van den Broek, SP80 pilot. “Breaking the 100 km/h barrier is rare in sailing. What’s even more exciting is our ability to consistently repeat these speeds. The boat is strong, stable, and clearly capable of more.”
Chasing Official Records
While peak speeds aren’t eligible for record certification, SP80 is closing in on the WSSRC-recognized benchmark of a 500-meter average. On the same day it hit 58 knots, the team posted a 48.645-knot average over 500 meters — just shy of two category records:
- 50.07 knots – Macquarie Innovation (2009), Category C (21–27 m² sail area)
- 51.36 knots – L’Hydroptère (2009), Category D (over 27 m² sail area)
With fine-tuning and favorable conditions, SP80 is poised to challenge and potentially break both of these in the coming weeks.
The Ultimate Goal
The team’s ambition remains clear: to beat the absolute sailing speed record of 65.45 knots, set by Vestas Sailrocket II in 2012. That means closing a 16-knot gap—a monumental challenge, but one the SP80 team is taking on with confidence and determination.
“Every run helps us learn,” said kite pilot Benoît Gaudiot. “We’re discovering how the boat behaves beyond 100 km/h. Now it’s all about precision, control, and pushing our coordination to the next level.”
What’s Next?
SP80 will continue its record attempts off the coast of Leucate and Port-La Nouvelle, France, through the end of June 2025. As conditions allow, the team will be aiming not just to set new category records, but to stake its claim as the fastest sailing craft on Earth.
📍 Location: Occitanie region, France
⛵ Next targets: 50.07 and 51.36 knots over 500m
🏁 Ultimate goal: 65.45 knots – the current world sailing speed record
