The French trimaran l’Hydroptere is heading to Britain this summer to try and break the ten-year-old round the Isle of Wight-record.

The Alain Thebault-lead team was 40 minutes ahead of the record, held by Steve Fosset’s catamaran Playstation since November 2001, at the halfway stage in a similar attempt last summer, but dropping winds meant they missed out by eight minutes.

l’Hydroptere will make its first attempt at the record on Sunday June 5 and, if necessary, will remain on stand-by until June 14.

The vessel’s main purpose is to test geometries and behaviours as part of the development of a l’Hydroptere maxi.

l’Hydroptere holds the world speed sailing records over both 500m and a nautical mile, breaking the 50-knot barrier on both occasions.

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