HYDROPTERE: RECORD RUN TO HAWAII IN 4 DAYS
THE STORY
From the Greek hydros (water) and ptere (wing), Hydroptere is a trimaran with foils. These underwater wings extract the
boat’s hulls from the water when a certain speed is reached, which considerably reduces the ship’s hydrodynamic drag.
Hydroptere can attain very high speeds. Not to float anymore but to fly: this dream came true with Hydroptere. The original
idea of Hydroptere was born in 1975 but only took shape on October 1st 1994 when Alain Thébault and his crew made
the prototype “fly” for the first time. From this milestone, passion and daring have continued to propel the project and have
transformed Hydroptere into a technological jewel, allowing her to be the first sailing boat to break the 50-knot speed barrier.
Hydroptere is now the world’s fastest sailing craft over one nautical mile.
ACHIEVEMENT
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL CROSSING RECORD 2005: Hydroptere excelled aviator Louis Blériot’s motorized performance. The
first hydrofoiler became faster than the first airplane.
THE WIND BARRIER 2008: Hydroptere was the first sailing boat to cross the 50-knot sailing speed barrier (92.6 km/h,
58 mi/h) with a top speed at 56.3 knots (104 km/h, 65 mi/h).
OUTRIGHT WORLD SPEED RECORD 2009: Hydroptere became the fastest sailing craft in the world (all categories) on 500
meters with 51.36 knots average speed. Hydroptere still holds the current outright sailing speed record over one nautical mile
with 50.17 knots average speed.
THE GOAL: CROSS THE PACIFIC FROM LOS ANGELES TO HAWAII IN 4 DAYS
Hydroptere moved to California to attempt breaking the 2,215 nautical miles Transpac record between Los Angeles and Honolulu.
This will be Hydroptere’s first oceanic challenge and the first ocean passage for any hydrofoiler. The 4 days crossing requires a 25
knots average speed with top speeds of 40 knots.
THE TEAM: OCEAN SAILORS AND AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERS
ALAIN THÉBAULT: Designer and skipper of Hydroptere, he piloted all the achievements of the flying trimaran.
JACQUES VINCENT: 8 round-the-world races (twice winner including one victory with Steve Fosset), 29 transatlantic crossings, coskipper on Hydroptere since 2005.
JEAN LE CAM: Three time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro race. 2 Vendée Globe races, winner of the Transat AG2R race.
YVES PARLIER: Winner of the Solitaire du Figaro race, winner of the Route du Rhum race, winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre race,
3 Vendée Globe races.
ALSO a 6 person shore team assisted by 8 aeronautical engineers from France’s most advanced companies AIRBUS and DASSAULT.
HOW TO MAKE IT: PARTNER WITH DARING SPONSORS
Hydroptere is looking for partners to break the Transpacific Record and open a new chapter in sailing history.
CONTACTS
Emilie Monthioux / [email protected] / (FR) +33 6 76 92 08 34 / (US) +1 562 537 8926
Thomas Lesage / [email protected] / (FR) +33 6 44 81 62 83 / (US) +1 562 310 6355
hydroptere.com