SailGP: speed record, gain of a million dollars… this sailing race where the French dream of being crowned

2023-05-07 00:53:16

The spectacular images of these 72-foot (22 m) catamarans taking off at dizzying speeds in San Francisco Bay (United States), with the Golden Gate as a backdrop, were seen around the world in 2013. During this 34th edition of the America’s Cup – which had seen, after a breathless suspense of 19 regattas, the victory of Oracle Team USA over Team New Zealand – the general public discovered the foils, these appendages allowing the boats to remain suspended above water. A decade later, the view of the bay is still just as stunning, the catamarans reach mad speeds of 99 km/h (24 more than in 2013) and the French (who hold the speed record) are turning things upside down.