Speed sailing record
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Hydropt%C3%A8re.jpg/400px-Hydropt%C3%A8re.jpg)
Speed sailingrecords are sanctioned, since 1972, by theWorld Sailing Speed Record Council(WSSRC). Records are measured either by average speed over a specified distance or by total distance traveled during a specified time interval. The three most sought after records are the:
- 500 metre (or "outright" ) recordis held byPaul Larsen.On 24 November 2012 he sailed theVestas Sailrocket 2at 65.45 knots inWalvis Bay,Namibia.[1]
- Nautical milerecordis held by Paul Larsen. On 18 November 2012 he sailed theVestas Sailrocket 2at 55.32 knots inWalvis Bay,Namibia.[2]
- 24 Hour distance recordis held byPascal Bidégorry.On 1 August 2009 he sailed theBanque Populaire V908 nautical miles (at 37.84 knots). This was while he was breaking thenorthern Atlantic record.
500 metre records[edit]
Date | Craft | Skipper | Location | Speed (knots) | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 November 2012 | Vestas Sailrocket 2 | Paul LarsenAUS | Walvis Bay,NAM | 65.45[1] | 121.1 | 75.2 | First record above 60 knots |
18 November 2012 | Vestas Sailrocket 2 | Paul LarsenAUS | Walvis Bay,NAM | 59.23[3] | 109.69 | 68.1 | |
28 October 2010 | Kitesurf | Robert DouglasUSA | Lüderitz,NAM | 55.65 | 103.06 | 64.0 | |
28 October 2010 | Kitesurf | Sebastien CattelanFRA | Lüderitz,NAM | 55.49 | 102.76 | 63.8 | 14 minutes before Robert Douglas' record. Homologated by the WSSRC. |
12 October 2010 | Kitesurf | Alexandre CaizerguesFRA | Lüderitz,NAM | 54.10 | 100.19 | 62.3 | First record above 100 km/h |
4 September 2009 | l'Hydroptère- hydrofoil trimaran | Alain ThébaultFRA | HyèresFRA | 51.36 | 95.11 | 59.1 | Nautical mile record broken on the same run. An instantaneous maximum speed of 55 knots was recorded. |
2008 | Kitesurf | Alexandre CaizerguesFRA | Lüderitz,NAM | 50.57 | 93.65 | 58.2 | |
2008 | Kitesurf | Sebastien CattelanFRA | Lüderitz, NAM | 50.26 | 93.08 | 57.8 | First record above 50 knots |
2008 | Kitesurf | Robert Douglas USA | Lüderitz, NAM | 49.84 | 92.30 | 57.4 | |
2008 | Windsurf | Antoine AlbeauFRA | Stes.Maries,FRA | 49.09 | 90.91 | 56.5 | |
2005 | Windsurf | Finian MaynardIRL | Stes.Maries, FRA | 48.70 | 90.19 | 56.0 | |
2004 | Windsurf | Finian MaynardIRL | Stes.Maries, FRA | 46.82 | 86.71 | 53.9 | |
1993 | Yellow Pages Endeavour- proa | Simon McKeonAUS | Sandy Point,AUS | 46.52 | 86.15 | 53.5 | |
1991 | Windsurf | Thierry BielakFRA | Stes.Maries, FRA | 44.66 | 82.71 | 51.4 | |
1990 | Windsurf | Pascal MakaFRA | Stes.Maries, FRA | 43.06 | 79.74 | 49.5 | |
1989 | CatamaranTechniques Avancées | Gérard Navarin
FRA |
Stes-Maries (France) | 42,12 | 78 | 48,47 | |
1988 | Windsurf | Erik BealeGBR | Stes.Maries, FRA | 40.48 | 74.96 | 46.6 | First record above 40 knots |
1986 | Windsurf | Pascal Maka FRA | Sotavento, SP | 38.86 | 71.96 | 44.7 | |
1980 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim ColmanGBR | Portland, UK | 36.00 | 66.67 | 41.4 | |
1977 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 34.40 | 63.70 | 39.6 | |
1977 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 33.80 | 62.59 | 38.9 | |
1975 | Crossbow IIcatamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 31.80 | 58.89 | 36.6 | |
1975 | Crossbow proa | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 31.10 | 57.59 | 35.8 | First record above 30 knots |
1973 | Crossbow proa | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 29.30 | 54.26 | 33.7 | |
1972 | Crossbow (proa) | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 26.30 | 48.70 | 30.3 | First record above 30 mph |
Class records[edit]
Last updated: 19 November 2012.
Category | Date | Craft | Skipper | Location | Speed (knots) | Speed (km/h) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D Class (Over 300 ft2) | 4 September 2009 | l'Hydroptère | Alain ThébaultFRA | HyèresFRA | 51.36 | 95.11 |
C Class (Up to 300 ft2(27.88 m2)) | 2009 | Macquarie Innovation | Simon McKeon AUS | Sandy Point,AUS | 50.07 | 92.72 |
B Class (Up to 235 ft2(21.84 m2)) | 2012 | Vestas Sailrocket 2 | Paul Larsen AUS | Walvis Bay,NAM | 65.45[1] | 121.1 |
A Class (Up to 150 ft2(13.93 m2)) | 1992 | Longshot | Russel Long USA | Tarifa,SP | 43.55 | 80.65 |
10 m2(Up to 10 m2) | 2015 | Windsurfer | Antoine Albeau FRA | Lüderitz, NAM | 53.27 | 98.66 |
Kite Sailing | 2013 | Kitesurfer | Alex Caizergues FRA | Salin-de-Giraud,FRA | 56.62 | 104.86 |
Nautical mile records[edit]
Date | Craft | Skipper | Location | Speed (knots) | Speed (km/h) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 November 2012 | Vestas Sailrocket 2 | Paul Larsen AUS | Walvis Bay,NAM | 55.32[2] | 102.45 | |
8 November 2009 | l'Hydroptère | Alain ThébaultFRA | HyèresFRA | 50.17 | 92.91 | .[4] |
4 September 2009 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thébault FRA | HyèresFRA | 48.72 | 90.23 | 500 metre record broken on the same run. |
Oct 2008 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thébault FRA | Port Saint-LouisFRA | 43.09 | 79.80 | |
April 2007 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thébault FRA | Baie de QuiberonFRA | 41.69 | 77.21 | |
October 2006 | Windsurfer | Bjorn DunkerbeckND | Walvis bay,Namibia | 41.14 | 76.19 | |
October 2005 | Windsurfer | Finian MaynardIRL | Walvis bay,Namibia | 39.97 | 74.02 | |
November 2004 | Windsurfer | Bjorn DunkerbeckND | Port Saint-LouisFRA | 34.44 | 63.78 | |
July 2003 | Windsurfer | Bjorn DunkerbeckND | Aringa,Grand Canaria | 33.96 | 62.89 |
Day's run[edit]
ADay's runis the distance traveled by a vessel in one day, normally measured from noon to noon. This was the traditional measure used in the days of packet and clipper ships and varied in the actual time dependent on whether the vessel was sailing east or west. The records certified by theWSSRCsince 1994 are based on a 24-hour distance measure irrespective of longitude.
24 hour distance record[edit]
Distance | Yacht | Skipper | Crew | Date | Competition | Average speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
436 nmi (807 km; 502 mi)[5] | ![]() |
James Nolan "Bully" Forbes | 1 March 1854 | 18.16 knots (33.63 km/h; 20.90 mph) | ||
465 nmi (861 km; 535 mi) | ![]() |
Alexander Newlands | 11 December 1854 | 19.375 knots (35.883 km/h; 22.296 mph) | ||
512 nmi (948 km; 589 mi) | ![]() |
Michael Birch | 1984 | 21.33 knots (39.50 km/h; 24.55 mph) | ||
517 nmi (957 km; 595 mi) | ![]() |
Philippe Poupon | 1987 | 21.54 knots (39.89 km/h; 24.79 mph) | ||
522.73 nmi (968.10 km; 601.55 mi) | ![]() |
Serge Madec | 1990 | 21.85 knots (40.47 km/h; 25.14 mph) | ||
524.63 nmi (971.61 km; 603.73 mi) | ![]() |
Olivier de Kersauson | 1994 | 21.91 knots (40.58 km/h; 25.21 mph) | ||
540 nmi (1,000 km; 620 mi) | ![]() |
Laurent Bourgnon(singlehanded) | 1 | 1994 | 22.50 knots (41.67 km/h; 25.89 mph) | |
547.3 nmi (1,013.6 km; 629.8 mi) | ![]() |
Bruno Peyron | 1994 | 22.80 knots (42.23 km/h; 26.24 mph) | ||
590.23 nmi (1,093.11 km; 679.22 mi) | ![]() |
Steve Fossett | 1999 | 24.59 knots (45.54 km/h; 28.30 mph) | ||
625.7 nmi (1,158.8 km; 720.0 mi) | ![]() |
Bruno Peyron&Grant Dalton | 14 | 11 November 2000 | 26.07 knots (48.28 km/h; 30.00 mph) | |
629.5 nmi (1,165.8 km; 724.4 mi) | ![]() |
Loick Peyron | 13 | 2001 | The Race | 26.23 knots (48.58 km/h; 30.18 mph) |
655.2 nmi (1,213.4 km; 754.0 mi) | ![]() |
Grant Dalton | 2001 | 27.30 knots (50.56 km/h; 31.42 mph) | ||
687.17 nmi (1,272.64 km; 790.78 mi) | ![]() |
Steve Fossett | 2001 | 28.63 knots (53.02 km/h; 32.95 mph) | ||
694.78 nmi (1,286.73 km; 799.54 mi) | ![]() |
Adrienne Cahalan,Helena Darvelid&Brian Thompson | 2002 | 28.95 knots (53.62 km/h; 33.32 mph) | ||
706.2 nmi (1,307.9 km; 812.7 mi) | ![]() |
Bruno Peyron | 2004 | 29.43 knots (54.50 km/h; 33.87 mph) | ||
766.8 nmi (1,420.1 km; 882.4 mi) | ![]() |
Bruno Peyron | 3 July 2006 | 31.95 knots (59.17 km/h; 36.77 mph) | ||
794 nmi (1,470 km; 914 mi) | ![]() |
Franck Cammas | 10 | 20 July 2007 | 33.08 knots (61.26 km/h; 38.07 mph) | |
907.9 nmi (1,681.4 km; 1,044.8 mi)[6] | ![]() |
Pascal Bidégorry | 11 | August 2009 | 37.83 knots (70.06 km/h; 43.53 mph) |
Note that the nineteenth century records are not strictly compatible as they measure a "Day's run" which was measured noon to noon regardless of longitude. The two entries above were both eastbound and therefore less than 24 hours.
Notable performances[edit]
During herJules Verne Trophyrecord in 2011-2012, theBanque Populaire Vskippered byLoïck Peyroncovered 811.70 nautical miles in 24 hours on 3 December 2011 at 11:45 UT, posting 28 days over 600 miles, including 9 days over 700 miles and 1 day over 800 miles.[7]
During her Jules-Verne trophy record in 2009-2010, the trimaranGroupama 3skippered byFranck Cammascovered 798 nautical miles in 24 hours on 13 February 2010 at 5 p.m. UT, showing 17 days over 600 miles, including 10 days over 700 miles.
During her Jules-Verne trophy record in 2016-2017, the trimaranIdec sportin the hands ofFrancis Joyonand his crew of Clément Surtel,Alex Pella,Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet and Sébastien Audigane, covered 894 nautical miles in 24 hours, and 10 consecutive days at 809 miles / 24 h. Francis Joyon rounds Cape Horn, 16 days after riding off of South America, and after a course of nearly 12,000 miles above an average of 30 knots (730.16 miles / 24 h over 16 days). He then signs a performance increase of between 30 and 40% compared to the record to be broken by Loïck Peyron 5 years earlier. Leaving the southern seas with a lead of 4 j 06 h 35 min over Loïck Peyron's previous record, Francis Joyon, Clément Surtel,Alex Pella,Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet and Sébastien Audigane regained the equivalent of 2,800 miles on the record during this episode.
During the aborted attempt of 2019,Yann Guichardsets a new record crossing the equator in 4 days 19 h 57 min and, thanks to favorable weather conditions, lines up 4,812.1 miles from the 11th to 16th day, or 802 miles / day for 6 consecutive days.
24 hour distance recordforArmel Le Cléac'honBanque Populaire VII:682,85 miles in 24 hours singlehanded on 2014 January 26th (28,45 knots).[8]
During his record around the world Singlehanded in 2017,24 hour distance recordforFrançois GabartonMacif:850,68 miles in 24h.[9]
During his attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy, December 5th of 2020,Thomas CovilleonSodebo Ultim 3covered 889.9 miles in 24 hours (37.1 knots average).[10]
During the return trip after his victory in the 2021Transat Jacques-Vabre,Charles Caudrelierbroke two unofficial records on theMaxi Edmond de Rothschild:in false solo training, he reached 50.7 knots, and covered 880 miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 36.6 knots. This last record cannot be approved for a lack of adequate equipment on board.[11]
Instantaneous speed record[edit]
The idea of an instantaneous speed record is not officially sanctioned by the WSSRC and is, therefore, not officially measured or documented. The highest speed ever reported is from the crew ofVestas Sailrocket2: on 24 November 2012 they recorded a top speed of 68.33 knots in a 25–29-knot wind. [12]
Previously, the highest speed ever reported was from the crew ofl'Hydroptère.During an attempt on 21 December 2008 at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, they recorded a top speed of approximately 61 knots (speed not verified or registered on any onboard instrumentation) during a 45 knot gust of wind. This heavy gust of wind overpowered the sailboat, causing it tocapsizeat high speed. The crew sustained only minor injuries.[13]
"Sovereign of the Seas",1852, 258 ft, the fastest and longest ship yet built when she was launched in New York, designed and built by Donald Mackay, America's foremost clipper designer. On her maiden voyage, she sailed New York to San Francisco in 103 days. This ship achieved the fastest ever recorded speed of a sailing vessel (22 knots).
Notable people[edit]
- Farrel O'Shea(born 1963), former professionalwindsurfer
Notes[edit]
- ^abc"Vestas Sailrocket 2 Outright Sailing Speed Record".WSSRC. 4 December 2012.
- ^ab"Vestas Sailrocket. Outright and NM".WSSRC. 2 December 2012.Retrieved14 December2021.
- ^"Vestas Sailrocket 2 Outright Sailing Speed Record".WSSR Council. 27 November 2012.
- ^"50 noeuds sur le mille!" sur le site Hydroptere.comArchived6 August 2009 at theWayback Machine
- ^Lubbock, Basil(1921),The Colonial Clippers,Glasgow, James Brown, p. 62
- ^"WSSRC Records - 24 Hour Distance".
- ^Trophy Jules-Verne, Partials and statistics
- ^"WSSR newsletter No 239. Banque Populaire 7. Singlehanded 24 hours. 28/02/14".www.sailspeedrecords.com.Retrieved9 January2018.
- ^"WSSR Newsletter No 296. MACIF. Singlehanded 24 hour record 07/01/18".www.sailspeedrecords.com.
- ^"La cartographie du Trophée Jules Verne".
- ^"2021: Clap de fin pour le Gitana Team".25 November 2021..
- ^Paul Larsen (28 November 2012)."BLOWN AWAY... THE 65 KNOT+ RUN (WITH VIDEO)".Vestas Sailrocket.
- ^61 knots for l'Hydroptère
See also[edit]
External links and references[edit]
- records on 500mon theWorld Sailing Speed Record Councilsite
- records on 1 nautical mileon theWorld Sailing Speed Record Councilsite
- L'Hydroptère record at 51,36 knots, 4 September 2009, on Youtube
- Vestas Sailrocket site
- Macquarie Innovation site
- Banque Populaire V site
- Crossbow I and II on the Dave Culp SpeedSailing site