Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

Hydroptere, Hydroptere 2 - The search is on for partners

by Thomas Lesage on 8 Dec 2012
l’Hydroptère DCNS, Alain Thébault and his crew (Yves Parlier, Jean le Cam, Jacques Vincent, Luc Alphand) during the first series of trials on the Med before trying to beat the Pacific crossing record between Los Angeles and Honolulu next summer. La Ciotat in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France. Christophe Launay
Hydroptere, Alain Thébault’s 'flying boat', is seeking partners to finance the Transpacific record attempt this summer and the launch in 2015 of a second generation Hydroptere designed to beat the North Atlantic record.

Since its double world absolute sailing speed record in 2009 (taken over by kitesurfers and recently by the Australian Paul Larsen) Hydroptere changed direction to head towards offshore challenges. 'Since 2009 we were the world fastest Formula 1 of the seas but our initial dream with Eric Tabarly was to test the concept offshore. In 2010, we decided to turn the F1 into a 4x4 of the seas to show that it was also possible to fly over the oceans,' said Alain Thébault, skipper and designer of Hydroptere.

After two seasons of exhibitions and training sessions around Europe, the French trimaran joined California for the first oceanic record attempt last July. As there was no favorable weather, the attempt had to be postponed until spring 2013. 'A setback in the schedule that no longer corresponded to the expectations of our title sponsor. They had no market opportunities in the United States. We are therefore looking for new key sponsors' says Emilie Monthioux, operational manager of the program.

At their level, the official partners of Hydroptere i.e. the innovative SMEs Atheos and Clip Industrie have renewed their confidence in the team, as well as the Champagne house Lanson which strengthened their investment on the boat a few weeks ago. Alain Thébault will attend the boat show in Düsseldorf mid-January. This is an ideal opportunity to announce in Germany, the arrival of a possible first key partner in the program with an important technological support for the research and the building of Hydroptere 2.


'In the nautical world and to the general public, Hydroptere remains an unidentified object. Our passion is to try, to experiment, to go where nobody goes. It is not always easy, but when it works, people say thank you. I like a lot the dreamlike dimension. With the record of the Transpacific, we can open a new chapter in the history of sailing: the one where flying boats, that is to say 100% hydrofoil sailboats will cross the oceans. Our 12 month campaign in 2013, with the Transpacific record attempt and the public relations in San Francisco during the America's Cup, represent a total budget of 2.7 million Euros, half of which in investment. Ideally we would like to gather several key partners, attracted by the same pioneer spirit and for which the American/Asian regions would constitute a field of strategic communication,' explains Alain Thébault.

Hydroptere is currently moored in San Francisco. It will spend the Christmas season in the bay until a first round of funding is gathered to start its winter checking. See you in Düsseldorf mid-January and in California next spring.

Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUS

Related Articles

PredictWind to show new race tracker in August
The Ocean Race joins with PredictWind as Official Tracking and Weather Services Supplier The Ocean Race, often described as the toughest test of a team in sport and widely recognised as a leader in impactful ocean health initiatives, and PredictWind, a global leader in marine weather forecasting, are collaborating on a new race tracker.
Posted today at 7:48 am
ORCV Women's Helm Race changes everything
Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste Some people drift into sailing. Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste.
Posted today at 7:41 am
2025 Transat Café L'OR is packed with surprises
73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th 73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandy.
Posted today at 7:20 am
The Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue is back at sea
Peter Burling joining the team for the Rolex Fastnet Race After a refit that began in March, the Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue was relaunched this Thursday, July 3. Lined up for the months ahead is an exciting race programme, culminating this year with the Transat Café L'Or in October.
Posted today at 5:14 am
Transpac's Middle fleet sets off for Diamond Head
Seventeen boats begin the 2,225-mile Pacific Crossing in light air conditions Seventeen boats begin the 2,225-mile Pacific Crossing in light air conditions in Transpac's second start.
Posted today at 2:39 am
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D4
High stakes for semi-finalists as the final four teams in each division are locked in The third day of racing at GKSS Match Cup Sweden saw the completion of the quarter-final match-ups in both the Open and Women's class, locking in the final four teams in each division for Friday's semi-finals.
Posted on 3 Jul
2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda Day 1
Five teams tied at the top Ikke Huber / Liam Berger (Switzerland) lead the charge after sweeping all 3 races in the Green fleet — an impressive perfect score of 2 points. Lucas & Moritz Hamm, the dynamic twin duo from Germany, matched their Swiss rivals with consistency and pace.
Posted on 3 Jul
Onboard reporters in the Course des Caps
Enjoying the challenge of bringing the race to life In the Course des Caps - Boulogne sur Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord, the Onboard Reporters, or OBRs, are back doing a wonderful job of bringing IMOCA racing to life with pictures, videos, interviews and reports from the boats.
Posted on 3 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 2
Consistent American Magic Quantum Racing move clear ahead American Magic Quantum Racing stepped three points clear at the top of the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship leaderboard today in Cascais, Portugal on the strength of a first and third from two breezy races.
Posted on 3 Jul
505 UK Nationals at Weymouth
Michael Sims and Carl Gibbon hold back Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn Apart from one 'stumble' in Race 7, the two leading boats were almost invisibly tied together to the point that after 8 races, they were tied on points.
Posted on 3 Jul