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Extraordinary kite-powered sailboat closes in on world speed record


Enjoy some hairy onboard footage as this alien spaceship of a sailboat records the second-fastest speed in history. The outright record is now well within reach, and this outrageous kite-powered boat is designed to absolutely smash it.

The outright world speed sailing record still stands at 65.37 knots (75.23 mph, or 121.06 km/h) and was set some 13 years ago by Paul Larsen in the Vestas Sailrocket 2. After several years of development and testing work, the SP80 is starting to stretch its legs, and the team has just announced the second-fastest speed in sailing history: 58.261 knots (67.1 mph, or 108 km/h). But the team will continue testing over the next month, off the coast of Leucate and Port-La Nouvelle in southern France, and there's every chance they'll finally relieve Larsen of his record.

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world speed record

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powered sailboat