The Hydroptere again ...

... as one fine day in 2007 ... it casually breaks its first world speed record ... to then dominate sailing for the decade to come.

The Hydroptère

Alain Thebault does it again. He and his crew have already broken the 50-mph barrier, with a run that topped out at 54 mph (47.2 knots). We are not talking a windsurf here but a full-fledged D-class sailship!

That thing can average a speed of 41.69 knots/h for at least one nautical mile and reach speeds of 44,5 knots/h for at least 500 meters … beating thus two world speed records so far, including the one held since 1997 by the catamaran “Techniques Avancées”. It broke these records in 25-knot winds ... that’s right … meaning that it can speed considerably faster than the wind propelling it. The physics of that just have to be awesome!

It’s called the Hydroptère … a Greek name indicating water and wing … iow … the “WaterWing”.

And it's the fastest sailboat in the world.