The SP80 project, a brainchild of EPFL students and alumni, is a thrilling journey in the sailing tech world, aiming to break the world sailing speed record. Their goal is audacious: to reach 80 knots (about 150 km/h), significantly surpassing the current record of 65.45 knots set by Paul Larsen’s Vestas Sailrocket 2 in 2012​​. Co-founders Mayeul van den Broek, Benoît Gaudiot, and Xavier Lepercq, united by their passion for sailing, kitesurfing, and speed, initiated this project at EPFL. They’ve built a team of around 50, including 23 EPFL students, under the SP80 student association. This cross-disciplinary group, coached by … Continue reading EPFL’s SP80 Aims for Sailing Speed Record with Groundbreaking Hydrofoil Technology