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A new team is challenging the world sailing speed record, and they’re using a kite-powered sailboat to do it.
Not only is the SP80 aiming to surpass the current record of 68.3 knots, it also plans to reach an impressive speed of 80 knots, or about 92 miles per hour.
The SP80 team chose a kite-inspired sail to help them break the world cruising speed record.
The team has been testing its unique sailboat at higher-than-ever speeds off the coast of Llocquet in southern France. She originally planned to break the record there in 2025, but deteriorating weather conditions forced her to change course.
The SP80 managed to reach a top speed of 58 knots, making it the second fastest sailboat ever.
In 2026, the team is working on building the boat and raising funds for its upcoming trip to Namibia, which offers some of the best fast sailing conditions in the world: flat water and strong winds.
In Namibia, the current cruising speed record was set by Paul Larsen, with the SP80 team hoping to set a new one.
The SP80 looks more like a spaceship than a sailboat, with a 3D design, kite-inspired sail, two cockpits, two pilots, and two steering wheels (one for the kite and one for the rudder).
The design of the SP80 trimaran prioritizes stability while minimizing drag.
The boat is specifically designed for the cruising equivalent of drag racing: cruising at breakneck speed in a straight line. The team is undergoing specialized safety training at a facility used by helicopter pilots to train on escaping from confined spaces and enclosed cockpits, even when submerged and upside down.
The team plans to head to Namibia this summer, where they will remain until the end of the year, hoping to ride those perfect winds to set a new world cruising speed record.
For a hands-on look at the SP80, and interviews with co-pilots on how to sail (and escape upside down), watch the video in this article.