Getting there

Alain Thibault's L'Hydroptere claims two new world records

44.5 knots over 500m and 41.5 knots over one nautical mile - L'Hydroptère has managed both these speeds in the process claiming two world records, subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

On Wednesday just south of Lorient, L'Hydroptère, helmed by Alain Thébault, achieved these speeds in a 25 knot northeasterly wind and a slight sea in the presence of Michael Ellison, official timekeeper at the WSSRC.

The 500m record ’Hydroptèreis claiming is that of the D-class, held by the catamaran Techniques Avancées in 1997, while the speed record over one nautical mile was set by board sailer Bjorn Dunkerbeck in 2006.

While L’Hydroptère have been testing, breaking and developing their craft for many many years now, in this cycle Alain Thébault and his Swiss-French crew, Jean-Matthieu, Jacques, François, Adrien, Pollux, Sébastien and Damien look more likely to achieve their aims. Their program so far this year has been interesting and successful because the latest modifications have made the boat more reliable as well as improving her performance. It has also been because recent record attempts have been on short courses of 500m or a kilometre.

Unfortunately it now looks like L'Hydroptere will move on from their attempt to get to 50 knots, as the team concentrate on offshore records again such as the 24 hour record.