Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 4

"Extreme. Frightening. Fast." Jimmy Spithill on sailing at 47.5kts on autopilot

by Sail-World.com/nz 20 Sep 2018 05:58 PDT
MACIF gets onto her foils during sea trials, September 2018 © MACIF

Jimmy Spithill, twice winner of the America's Cup takes time out from America's Cup challenger Luna Rossa to have a stint of offshore sailing aboard the 30metre foiling trimaran MACIF - arguably the fastest sailing vessel on the planet. "Extreme. Frightening. Fast."

"It's amazing what you get used to," he commented. "In 30-35kts of wind we are getting up and doing over 47kts - on an autopilot! It's definitely a new experience," he grinned.

Francois Gabart (35) already holds the solo round the world record of 42 days 16 hours 40 minutes and 35 seconds - and that was before the 30metre trimaran went into the shed to have foils fitted. She is now sea trialing ahead of her next record attempt.

Related Articles

Sam Goodchild ready for the 1000 Race
His first solo race on board MACIF Health Insurance The first solo race of the 2026 season, the 1000 Race (Port-la-Forêt - Fastnet Rock - Concarneau), will set sail on May 3rd from Port-la-Forêt, with qualification for the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe (starting November 1st) as the ultimate goal. Posted on 27 Apr Sam Goodchild heading for a 100% solo season
MACIF Santé Prévoyance finishing a meticulous winter refit In a month the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance will return to the water after a meticulous winter refit at the MerConcept shipyard in Concarneau. There is barely time to get reacquainted with the boat before the first major event looms: the 1000 Race. Posted on 4 Mar Charlie Dalin will not participate this season
Sam Goodchild will skipper the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance After reflection and in consultation with his medical team, Charlie Dalin has made the decision not to participate in the 2026 IMOCA circuit season and to focus fully on his recovery. Posted on 29 Jan Macif renews its commitment to ocean racing
A new IMOCA program 2027-2030 with Sam Goodchild as skipper Macif announces the continuation of its commitment to ocean racing with an ambitious project that will begin in 2027 and end in 2030. The IMOCA MACIF will be on the starting line of the Vendée Globe 2028-2029. Posted on 14 Oct 2025 Trimaran MACIF takes option to spice things up
Currently lying third in the Brest Atlantiques After 23 days of racing, the MACIF trimaran is third in the Brest Atlantiques and the finish should be in just over a week, in Brest. François Gabart and Gwenolé Gahinet are laying everything on the line by trying to sail up the Atlantic by the west Posted on 28 Nov 2019 MACIF crew heads to Brest Atlantiques' 2nd course
Trimaran's skipper talks about what the trio have been through since Rio On Tuesday, François Gabart, Gwénolé Gahinet and Jérémie Eloy were making headway at nearly 30 knots on a course leading to the Cape, the southernmost headland on the African continent, where the Brest Atlantiques' second course marker is located. Posted on 20 Nov 2019 Soon time to share life on board MACIF Trimaran
How has the trio prepared for this long stretch of cohabitation? The search for performance is a key phase in offshore racing, because it is both the goal and the guideline. For the Brest Atlantiques, knowing how to live together will be essential. Posted on 19 Oct 2019 Full speed ahead for the MACIF Trimaran
Five crew members will try to win the Rolex Fastnet Race Five crew members will help François Gabart try to win the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, which will start on Saturday 3 August at Cowes (England). The goal of the MACIF trimaran crew is to push her as hard as they can! Posted on 31 Jul 2019 Gahinet to co-skipper MACIF with Gabart
A dynamic duo enter the Brest Atlantiques in November The MACIF trimaran will be skippered by the round the world single-handed record holder and co-skippered by the co-holder of the Jules Verne Trophy, in the race that sets off in a loop from Brest. Posted on 21 Jul 2019 MACIF Trimaran back at sea
Better performance and more reliable Just a few days after the MACIF trimaran left the cargo ship that brought it back from Pointe-à-Pitre, in mid-January, it was sent to the yard for a refit, where it has spent nearly four months in the expert hands of the MACIF technical team. Posted on 23 May 2019
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastRooster 2026Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2026 Sail-World Sail-World USA and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy