The SP80 and Syroco teams have unleashed their awe-inspiring boats onto the water, resembling extraterrestrial spacecrafts. These remarkable machines, driven by high-speed kites instead of traditional sails, are built to achieve mind-boggling speeds.
For over a decade, the world sailing speed record has remained unchallenged at 65.37 knots (75.23 mph/121.06 km/h), set by Paul Larsen in the Vestas Sailrocket II in 2012. This record has proven difficult to surpass due to the inherent instability of rigid masts when subjected to intense wind power. However, the videos below demonstrate that these record speeds are far from ordinary. VESTAS Sailrocket 2 stands as the official world speed sailing record holder (subject to WSSRC ratification).
Nevertheless, records exist to be broken, and both the SP80 and Syroco teams are pursuing this challenge with innovative approaches. Their collective target is to shatter the existing record by reaching a speed of 81 knots (93 mph/150 km/h). Both teams have adopted the use of sizable kites attached to the boats with robust lines as a means of preventing capsizing. Since our initial examination of these designs in 2021, both teams have made significant progress.
In terms of aesthetics, if this were a beauty contest, the SP80 would undoubtedly take the crown. With its sleek and elegant trimaran design, it could easily be mistaken for a futuristic vessel straight out of a Star Wars film. Picture this: a silver 3D-model trimaran featuring Natalie Portman emerging from the cabin against the backdrop of Naboo. The SP80 is now gracefully gliding across Lake Geneva.
The SP80 design spans 10.5 meters (34.4 feet) in length and accommodates two individuals in tandem. One operates the kite attached to a control arm behind the cabin, while the other steers the vessel. The focus of this design is to maintain contact between the three hulls and the water, thereby preventing a flip due to the rapid airflow at high speeds.
In August, the SP80 team conducted drag measurements by towing the vessel behind a boat on Lake Geneva, achieving a speed of 30 knots. This validation against computer-modeled predictions is merely the beginning. The team is currently working on the implementation of the sail component, commencing with small sails and gradually progressing to larger sizes, increased power, and higher speeds over time.
As for Syroco, defining this creation as a mere “boat” feels inadequate. The team describes it as a “weightless yacht,” but it can be more accurately described as a kite connected to a hydrofoil wing via a taut line submerged in water. As the foil and the kite exert opposing forces, the line becomes rigid. The primary challenge faced by Syroco is to design a supercavitating hydrofoil that maintains stability without inducing disruptive vibrations.
Somewhere along the line, a distinctively shark-shaped hull and cabin are suspended, a few meters above the water, as the boat sails. Strikingly, the hull and foil are linked by a flexible, high-tension line, in contrast to the conventional solid support structures employed in previous hydrofoiling boat designs.
Due to a phenomenon called cavitation, hydrofoils are naturally speed-limited to approximately 100 km/h (62 mph). Cavitation occurs when the hydrofoil wing generates a high-pressure zone on one side and a low-pressure zone on the other, causing water to vaporize and creating significant drag. You can delve deeper into this topic by referring to our earlier piece on Syroco’s distinctive approach to surpassing this speed limit.
Remarkably, the Syroco team has been able to achieve flight with prototypes since late 2021. Initially, a crane arm attached to a support boat replaced the kite, but they have now transitioned to solely relying on wind power with a small kite. Although it may be the result of low wind speeds during testing, one cannot help but feel a sense of trepidation when observing this contraption in action. Take a look at the video below to witness the remarkable journey recorded by Syroco: On the Road to the Sailing World Speed Record | Syroco – Footage from the Journey!
It is safe to say that the Syroco team might need to stock up on barf bags when human passengers are eventually introduced. Both teams will persist in refining, adjusting, testing, and accelerating their designs. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the extent to which these peculiar and groundbreaking designs can be pushed. It is an exhilarating sight to witness two highly-resourced and inventive teams vigorously pursuing the world speed record simultaneously!
Sources: SP80, Syroco
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