Speed sailing records are sanctioned, since 1972, by the World 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:
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 of l'Hydroptère. During an attempt on the 21st of december 2008 at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, they recorded a top speed of approximately 61 knots during a 45 knot gust of wind. This heavy gust of wind overpowered the sailboat, causing it to capsize at high speed. The crew sustained only minor injuries. [1]
| Date | Craft | Skipper | Location | Speed (knots) | Speed (km/h) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Sept 2009 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thebault FRA | Hyères FRA | 51.36 | 95.11 | Nautical mile record broken on the same run. An instantaneous maximum speed of 55 knots was recorded. |
| 2008 | Kitesurf | Alexandre Caizergues FRA | Lüderitz, NAM | 50.57 | 93.65 | |
| 2008 | Kitesurf | Sebastien Cattelan FRA | Luderitz, NAM | 50.26 | 93.08 | First record above 50 knots |
| 2008 | Kitesurf | Robert Douglas USA | Luderitz, NAM | 49.84 | 92.30 | |
| 2008 | Windsurf | Antoine Albeau FRA | Stes.Maries, FRA | 49.09 | 90.91 | |
| 2005 | Windsurf | Finian Maynard IRL | Stes.Maries, FRA | 48.70 | 90.19 | |
| 2004 | Windsurf | Finian Maynard IRL | Stes.Maries, FRA | 46.82 | 86.71 | |
| 1993 | Yellow Pages Endeavour | Simon McKeon AUS | Sandy Point, AUS | 46.52 | 86.15 | |
| 1991 | Windsurf | Thierry Bielak FRA | Stes.Maries, FRA | 44.66 | 82.71 | |
| 1990 | Windsurf | Pascal Maka FRA | Stes.Maries, FRA | 43.06 | 79.74 | |
| 1988 | Windsurf | Erik Beale GBR | Stes.Maries, FRA | 40.48 | 74.96 | |
| 1986 | Windsurf | Pascal Maka FRA | Sotavento, SP | 38.86 | 71.96 | |
| 1980 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 36.00 | 66.67 | |
| 1977 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 34.40 | 63.70 | |
| 1977 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 33.80 | 62.59 | |
| 1975 | Crossbow II catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 31.80 | 58.89 | |
| 1975 | Crossbow catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 31.10 | 57.59 | |
| 1973 | Crossbow catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 29.30 | 54.26 | |
| 1972 | Crossbow catamaran | Tim Colman GBR | Portland, UK | 26.30 | 48.70 |
Last updated: 20th of September 2009.
| Category | Date | Craft | Skipper | Location | Speed (knots) | Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D Class (Over 300 ft²) | 4 Sept 2009 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thebault FRA | Hyères FRA | 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)) | 2008 | Vestas Sailrocket | Paul Larsen AUS | Walvis Bay, NAM | 47.36 | 87.71 |
| 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) | 2008 | Windsurfer | Antoine Albeau FRA | Stes.Maries, FRA | 49.09 | 90.91 |
| Kite Sailing | 2008 | Kitesurfer | Alexandre Caizergues FRA | Lüderitz, NAM | 50.57 | 93.65 |
| Date | Craft | Skipper | Location | Speed (knots) | Speed (km/h) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 nov 2009 | L'Hydroptère | Alain Thebault FRA | Hyères FRA | 50,17 | 92,91 | [2]Homologation pending. |
| 4 Sept 2009 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thebault FRA | Hyères FRA | 48.72 | 90.23 | 500 Meter record broken on the same run. |
| Oct 2008 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thebault FRA | Port Saint-Louis FRA | 43.09 | 79.80 | |
| April 2007 | l'Hydroptère | Alain Thebault FRA | Baie de Quiberon FRA | 41.69 | 77.21 | |
| October 2006 | Windsurfer | Bjorn DunkerbeckND | Walvis bay, Namibia | 41.14 | 76.19 | |
| October 2005 | Windsurfer | Finian Maynard IRL | Walvis bay, Namibia | 39.97 | 74.02 | |
| November 2004 | Windsurfer | Bjorn DunkerbeckND | Port Saint-Louis FRA | 34.44 | 63.78 | |
| July 2003 | Windsurfer | Bjorn DunkerbeckND | Aringa, Grand Canaria | 33.96 | 62.89 |
| Date | Distance (nm) | Avg speed (knots) | Skipper(s) | Boat | Type | Crew | Location and event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August 2009 | 908 | 37.84 | Pascal Bidégorry FRA | Banque Populaire V | trimaran 40 meters | 12 members | During successful attempt to break the record of the northern Atlantic. |
| 20 July 2007 | 794 | 33.08 | Franck Cammas FRA | Groupama 3 | trimaran 103 feet | 10 members | During successful attempt to break the record of the northern Atlantic |
| 3 July 2006 | 766.8 | 31.95 | Bruno Peyron FRA | Orange II | catamaran 120 feet | ... | During successful attempt to break the record of the northern Atlantic |
| 2004 | 706.2 | 29.43 | Bruno Peyron FRA | Orange II | catamaran 120 feet | ... | |
| 2002 | 694.78 | 28.95 | A. Cahalan, H. Darvelid and B. Thompson | Maiden 2exClub Med | catamaran 110 feet | ... | |
| 2001 | 687.17 | 28.63 | Steve Fossett USA | PlayStation | catamaran 125 feet | ... | |
| 2001 | 655.2 | 27.30 | Grant Dalton NZ | Club Med | catamaran 110 feet | ... | |
| 2001 | 629.5 | 26.23 | Loick Peyron FRA | Innovation Explorer | catamaran 110 feet | 13 members | During The Race (event). |
| 11 june 2000 | 625.7 | 26.07 | Bruno Peyron FRA and Grant Dalton NZ | Club Med | catamaran 110 feet | 14 members | Qualification for The Race, crossing the northern Atlantic from east to west |
| 1999 | 590.23 | 24.59 | Steve Fossett USA | PlayStation | catamaran 105 feet | ... | |
| 1994 | 547.3 | 22.80 | Bruno Peyron FRA | Explorer | catamaran 86 feet | ... | |
| 1994 | 540 | 22.50 | Laurent Bourgnon FRA | Primagaz | trimaran 60 feet | ... |
