January 31st: the team is a bit nervous.
After a month in the shipyard entirely focused on refining our floats, one question remained: would they perform as expected? As a reminder, we modified their shape to improve performance after installing our new foil last November, which slighlty changed the boat’s behavior. We told you all about it here.
First run of the day:
For this back-to-school run, we played it safe, opting for our trusted, all-purpose 40m2. We launched the boat… and it almost immediately started to plane.
Compared to our sailings in December, the difference is night and day! Our pilots easily reached 35 knots (65 km/h) before easing-off and releasing the kite: the wind was getting stronger and our 40m2 kite felt slightly oversized.
Confident after this first run, it was time to test our latest addition: the 30m2 kite we introduced last month. Lighter and stiffer, it has been designed for better performance – and it did not disappoint.
We launched the boat once again…and this time, we reached 45 knots (83 km/h), a new top speed for the team! You can discover the full run here.
That day, we completed 6 runs in ideal conditions: steady 30 knots winds and unseasonably mild temperatures.
A perfect day, confirming three things: reshaping the floats was the right call, our new kite and appendages (foil & rudder) have serious potential… and most importantly, our boat just wants one thing: to accelerate!
A windless February
Boosted by this first successful outing, we sailed as often as possible in February. But this time, the conditions were far from ideal…
With light winds that died down every afternoon, we set off before dawn to maximize our chances of catching the right slot. We even used our biggest kite, 55m², designed specifically for light conditions… but the wind remained frustratingly unstable, making it nearly impossible for the boat to plane.
“Nearly” impossible, because, you know us… we didn’t give up! Thanks to perseverance and some lucky well-timed gusts, our pilots managed to plane, squeezing out a few runs at around 30/35 knots (65 km/h).
Unfortunately, with average winds staying below 20 knots throughout our February sailings, the boat could not fully unleash its potential. But every session is an opportunity to learn and improve… we can never say no to a day on the water!
New challenge: mastering the boat’s acceleration
New year, new challenge…
We have reached an exciting new phase: now, the boat’s limit are no longer technical – they’re down to our piloting skils!
And when you think about it, that’s completely normal.
Since the end of 2023, we’ve spent months perfecting our logistics: how to take-off giant kites, how to launch the boat, how to manage safety during runs, and how to get the boat to plane. (Feeling nostalgic? Here’s our very first run with a kite attached to the boat, and we were NOT fast).
With all that groundwork laid, our two pilots have actually had very few high-speed hours on the water.
Today, logistics are dialed in, the team can complete multiple runs in a day—even in tricky conditions—and the boat is in full record-breaking configuration. Now, it’s time for our pilots to truly understand the boat’s behavior at 40+ knots and train as much as possible.
The challenge? The boat accelerates fast, but maintaining a clean trajectory is tough. Too often, we end up too far from the beach, battling choppy waters. To protect both the boat’s structure and our pilots’ backs, they have to release the kite mid-acceleration—cutting runs short before reaching full potential.
The solution ? Mastering trajectories
Our goal is to stay as close as possible to the beach, where the water is flatter. That means two key improvements:
- More training – The more the pilots sail, the sharper their trajectories become, so we hit the water as often as possible—even in suboptimal conditions.
- Better launch techniques – A small adjustment to the boat’s starting angle can make a huge difference. Even something as simple as shifting a mooring line by a few centimeters can improve our trajectory from the get-go.
Our focus for the next sessions is clear: stay in control, close to the shore, and maximize our average speed over 500m.
Because, while top speeds are thrilling, it’s the 500m average that will count for the world record!
March, please bring back the Tramontane
Our biggest wish? For the Tramontane to return so we can hit the water again, perfect our trajectories… and push beyond 45 knots. Most importantly, we’re focused on improving our 500m average speed.
Stay tuned!
@SP80.record
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