L'Hydroptère beats two speed records

Alain Thébault and his eight crew members started their first day of training on Friday morning in the Hyères harbor on Hydroptère under excellent conditions that ultimately lead to the French multihull breaking two records several times by the end of the day.

During the 4th run, l’Hydroptère team significantly improved the record over one nautical mile at 44.9 knots. Just two hours later, the record over one nautical mile was smashed and increased to 46.6 knots and that over 500 meters significantly improved at 47.7 knots.

Another two hours later the average speed over one nautical mile edged 2 knots and reached 48.7 knots while with a top speed at 54 knots l’Hydroptère crossed the 50-knot barrier over 500 meters with a run at an average speed of 50.3 knots.

It seemed there was no end in sight for the record-breaking streak. Alain Thébault and his crew broke the record again when they reached an average speed of more than 51 knots over 500 meters.

The data will be confirmed after the analysis of the measurements and will then be validated by the WSSRC.

L'Hydroptère keeps breaking speed records. Hyères, 4 September 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget