Hydroptère: Setting new records at sea September 09, 2009. A new world record - this is what everything is about in the bay of Hyères in Southern France. The trimaran "Hydroptère" is speeding over the Mediterranean sea. The air?ow hitting the crew on board at wind force 7 is so strong that spray is stirred up feeling like slaps in their faces. Forces of nature pull at every part of the ship. However, the record is achieved: Hydroptère reaches a speed of 51.35 knots (about 95 km/h) and is thus considered the fastest sailing boat in the world for the distances of 500 and 1000 m. This success was made possible by one man's ideas. Alain Thébault of France has been pursuing his dream of building the fastest sailing boat in the world for decades - a ship that moves so fast that it ?ies over the

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