Launching
Alain Thébault : "we will be able to fly over Lake Geneva"
The prototype l’Hydroptère.ch, a 35’ foil catamaran, presented in Switzerland
mardi 24 août 2010 –
Toutes les versions de cet article : [English] [français]
Alain Thébault, founder and pilot of the Hydroptère project and Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon, scientific manager of the project, accompanied by their Design Team, unveiled on Monday their new prototype, l’Hydroptère.ch, a 35ft catamaran at the Decision SA shipyard in Ecublens (Switzerland) which will soon be launched on Lake Geneva.
In 2009, l’Hydroptère, the 60ft trimaran, became the fastest sailing craft in the world when she bet two absolute sailing speed records i.e. 51.36 knots (95 km/h) over 500 metres and 50.17 knots (93 km/h) over one nautical mile. These are milestones in the history of sailing. l’Hydroptère.ch follows the same principle. As a trial lab, she will help conceiving l’Hydroptère maxi whose purpose is to beat the most famous oceanic records and to follow Jules Verne’s vision : Flying around the planet.
Three boats to attempt all major records : Pure speed, Atlantic crossing, Pacific crossing and circumnavigation.
– Alain Thébault : « This christening is a very important day for the team and for myself. I am proud and moved. l’Hydroptère.ch is the result of years of studies and sailing sessions on l’Hydroptère but also of the work and the commitment of an extraordinary team. After a few weeks of adjustments and finish- works, we will be able to fly over Lake Geneva. l’Hydroptère is an extraordinary human and technological adventure and l’Hydroptère.ch follows the same principle. As a lab boat designed to conceive l’Hydroptère maxi, this catamaran will help testing a new geometry and especially the configuration with two rudders. The objective of this hybrid sailing boat : The versatility. Sailing nearly as fast as Archimedean traditional boats and achieving higher speeds in flight. First on Lake Geneva, then in the Mediterranean and abroad, l’Hydroptère.ch should give answers to precise questions related to flight dynamics and she will be an ambassador of the cross-frontier collaboration. »
– Patrick Aebischer, supporter of l’Hydroptère.ch broke a bottle of Champagne at the end of the press conference and evoked the links that gathered the EPFL and the Hydroptère project from 2006 : ”The researches carried out at the EPFL have already contributed to the two records beaten by the team last year. l’Hydroptère.ch is a new step in this collaboration. This sailing boat is an opportunity for the committed researchers to validate the developments they do and to experiment in real conditions the innovative solutions to extend the existing limits in many fields of activities. This project is really motivating for the researchers as well as for the students who are involved in it”.
– Info presse Marlène Colegrave / www.hydroptere.com
Voir en ligne : Photo(s) Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com
Dans la même rubrique
-
en : SailGP Championship 2025
SailGP Germany : Les Bleus win their first event of the 2025 Season
In a stunning weekend comeback, the France SailGP Team claimed their first event win of the 2025 Season – bouncing back from near-disaster in practice to beat the BONDS Flying Roos and Emirates GBR in an action-packed winner-takes-all Final. -
fr : Foiling catamarans
2025 TF35 season : Julien Firmenich’s Ylliam 17 claimed victory in Nyon
Julien Firmenich’s Ylliam 17 claimed victory this weekend at the opening event of the 2025 TF35 season in Nyon, marking their first-ever regatta win since joining the fleet in 2023. Sailing alongside Firmenich were tactician Guillaume Rol and crew members Ed Powys, Stewart Dodson, Matthieu Ravussin, and Nelson Mettraux. -
en : Foiling cats • Switzerland
TF35 Trophy 2024 : Sails of Change 8 secures season title
The 2024 TF35 season came to a quiet close at the Société Nautique de Genève, as calm conditions on Lake Geneva persisted for a second consecutive day, preventing any further racing. -
en : Paris 2024 • Marseille
Olympic Sailing 2024 : Italian Crew Defend Olympic Title in Mixed Multihull
Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti retained their Olympic title in the Mixed Multihull with a dazzling display in Marseille. The Italian crew picked up the gold medal in Tokyo and looked set to replicate that feat in France, winning half the races that took place in the Opening Series. Heading into the Medal Race, Tita and Banti had at least a (…) -
en : Foiling catamarans
TF35 Trophy 2023 : Realteam Sailing, skippered by Jérôme Clerc, claim the annual Trophy
With only two races sailed due to light winds on the final day of the TF35 Malcesine Cup 1, Realteam Sailing, skippered by Jérôme Clerc, who have clinched the victory at every event of the 2023 season, claim the annual TF35 Trophy with one event remaining. -
en : Inshore Racing | GC32
GC32 Racing Tour 2023 : Rockwool’s Lagos GC32 masterclass
Four days of racing at the GC32 Lagos Cup came to a conclusion today on Portugal’s Algarve coast with a run-away victory for the Nicolai Sehested-skippered Team Rockwool Racing. Out of 15 races sailed, the Danish SailGP crew won a phenomenal ten, including an opening day of five races when they were unbeaten. In fact Thursday was the only one (…)
A la une
Articles les plus récents
-
fr : Trimaran Banque Populaire XI
Armel Le Cléac’h, 2e de la Fastnet Race : "La bagarre a été belle entre les 4 trimarans"
À l’issue d’une course haletante, le Maxi Banque Populaire XI a franchi la ligne d’arrivée ce lundi au petit matin à 6h23. Après 1 jour, 18 heures et 3 minutes de course, l’équipage autour d’Armel Le Cléac’h termine à 45 minutes du vainqueur (SVR-Lazartigue). Un sprint qui contribue à poursuivre la montée en puissance de l’Ultime avant la (…) -
en : Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue
Tom Laperche, winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race : "This is my first victory as skipper"
Aboard Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue, skipper Tom Laperche and his crew claimed victory this Monday, July 28, in the 51st edition of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, from Cowes (UK) to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (France). Already winners of the previous edition and current course record holders, the crew delivered a strong performance just months ahead (…) -
en : Windsurf
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam : Sarah-Quita Offringa claims two more world titles
Sotavento once again delivered the goods for the 37th edition of the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam, as we were treated to some of the best racing on the World Tour over the opening five days in Slalom X, while the Freestyle fleets continued to raise the bar on what is possible on flatwater over two intense days of competition. -
en : ClubSwan Racing’s Nations League
Swan Lake Garda Challenge : Marcello by Philippe Ligot wins the event
The curtain falls on the first edition of the Swan Lake Garda Challenge, the third leg of the ClubSwan Racing’s Nations League and the first ever held on a lake. From July 23 to 26, the event brought the excitement of racing exclusively in the ClubSwan 28 class to the waters of Lake Garda. -
fr : Mini 650 • Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
PURU Transgascogne 2025 : Benoit Marie ajoute une 7e victoire à sa saison
Le suspense n’aura duré que le temps d’un près. Après le départ de la 2e étape donné à Gijon mercredi 23 juillet, Benoit Marie (1067) s’est rapidement envolé sur ses foils à l’avant de la flotte. Dans une allure au près où Nicomatic-Petit Bateau est censé être moins performant, il était talonné par la paire Pozzoli-Chapot (1026). Mais la (…) -
en : Gdynia Sailing Days festival
eSailing : Tristan Péron became first double world champion
The 2025 eSailing World Championship has concluded with a dramatic final live from Gdynia as part of the Gdynia Sailing Days festival. Tristan Péron (asere) became eSailing’s first double world champion after qualifying for five finals, including his previous title win in Trieste in 2023. -
fr : Ocean Fifty Edenred
Basile Bourgnon : "C’est un immense plaisir de voir ce bateau à l’eau"
Edenred, engagé dans la course au large depuis 2018, entame un nouveau cycle avec la mise à l’eau de son Ocean Fifty ce 18 juillet 2025 au Verdon-sur-Mer. Une journée empreinte d’émotions pour Basile Bourgnon, Emmanuel Le Roch et tous les acteurs mobilisés autour de la réalisation de ce premier trimaran Edenred par les équipes du Neo Sailing (…) -
en : Foiling skiffs
69F Cup 2025 : Allan Norreggard won again in Torbole
Confirming their leadership in the 69F Class, where they had won the European title just a few weeks ago, the Finns of FIN 1 Racing also won Act 2 of the 69F Cup, held over the weekend in Torbole, thanks to the organization of the Circolo Vela Torbole. -
fr : Class 40
Les Sables – Horta – Les Sables : La victoire au retour et au général pour Fabien Delahaye
Le skipper normand Fabien Delahaye a remporté avec brio la deuxième étape de Les Sables – Horta – Les Sables. En s’imposant en solitaire au terme d’un parcours complexe entre les Açores et la Vendée, il prend également la tête du classement général de cette 10e édition. -
fr : Class40 Legallais
Fabien Delahaye s’impose en solo et au général des Sables-Horta-Les Sables
Au terme d’une bataille acharnée et grâce à une option sud audacieuse, le skipper du Class40 LEGALLAIS s’offre la victoire sur ce retour des Açores après 5 jours 20 heures 39 minutes et 26 secondes de compétition. Troisième de la course aller en double, Fabien Delahaye et Pierre Leboucher remportent le classement général* de cette épreuve (…)
