Fast Ship SP80 Smashes the 50-miles-per-hour Mark, Inching towards the Global Speed Record
In the world of sailing, excitement is building as the Swiss SP80 team edges closer to breaking the world speed sailing record, aiming to reach a staggering speed of 80 knots (approximately 150 km/h). This ambitious target, if achieved, would surpass the current record by an impressive 18%.
The SP80 team's revolutionary kite-powered trimaran sailboat, measuring 33 feet long and 23 feet wide, has captured the attention of the sailing community with its unique design. Unlike traditional record contenders, the SP80 intentionally avoids hydrofoils to prevent cavitation, a dangerous phenomenon causing drag and instability at high speeds.
Instead, the SP80 employs a giant kite tethered to a wing-like control arm, which pulls the boat forward with immense force. To counterbalance the kite's upward pull, a foil blade on the right side exerts downward force, keeping the vessel in contact with the water.
The team's progress has been remarkable. By early July 2025, the SP80 recorded impressive speeds of upwards of 58 knots (108 km/h), and earlier in tests, it reached 51 knots (95 km/h). These achievements make it the second fastest sailboat ever recorded, behind the Vestas Sailrocket II (68.01 knots).
The SP80 team has also leveraged advanced simulation and AI-powered design tools within NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform. This approach has accelerated development and enhanced safety considerations, crucial given the extreme risks involved in breaking speed records in sailing.
Paul Larsen, the current world sailing speed record holder, has expressed interest in the SP80's performance. The team believes the boat wants to go faster and needs more time on the water to unleash its full potential. The latest version of the SP80 boat was launched in January 2025, and the team is planning for their first official record attempts this spring in Leucate, Occitanie.
The team's latest speeds have renewed interest in the speed sailing world. If successful, the SP80 team aims to beat the world speed record before summer 2025. However, every knot faster than 50 knots is more challenging to achieve for the SP80 team, as they focus on mastering the boat's behavior from 0 to over 70 knots.
The SP80 boat was built at Persico Marine in 2021, and a prototype was tested on Lake Geneva in 2020. Despite not always favourable weather conditions, the team has managed to accumulate significant sailing hours, bringing them closer to their ambitious goal.
Enthusiasts and the sailing community eagerly anticipate the next high-speed trials this summer to see if the 80-knot milestone will be achieved. The SP80 project, with its innovative kite propulsion, sophisticated hull design, and cutting-edge AI-enabled engineering, is poised to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of sailing.
The SP80 team's aspirations in the realm of sailing are not confined to their record-breaking pursuit; they aim to redefine the limits of kite-powered trimarans, engineering a vessel that challenges traditional sailboats.
Sailing enthusiasts worldwide are intrigued by the potential of the SP80 boat, hoping its innovative design and kite propulsion will surpass the current world speed sailing record and reach the coveted 80-knot milestone this summer.
