L’Hydroptère.ch has now come true

L’Hydroptère [the original]. Image copyright C. Levy.

by l'Hydroptère media

The Hydroptère project is not limited to the performance of the 60-foot trimaran which has beaten two world speed records at an average speed of over 50 knots in 2009 in the Mediterranean. Alain Thébault and his team decided to extend the limits of the project and planned to develop two new boats, with the ultimate objective of sailing around the world in approximately 40 days on l'Hydroptère maxi.

To reach this objective, the team with the help of the ”papés” (retired engineers) and of their scientific adviser, The Swiss Technological Institute in Lausanne, decided to follow the same experimental process as that employed by Alain Thébault in the development of l’Hydroptère and to consider an intermediate step, that being to build on a reduced scale a test model i.e. l'Hydroptère.ch.


L’Hydroptère.ch and her maxi cousin. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.

l’Hydroptère.ch will serve as a lab boat whose main purpose is to test geometries and behaviours in varied real conditions for the development of l’Hydroptère maxi.

As a Swiss-French project l’Hydroptère.ch is being built in two shipyards, one in Brittany and one in Switzerland. She should be launched beginning of summer 2010.


The [original] Hydroptère. Image copyright Guilain Grenier.

At the same time in Lorient, [the original] l’Hydroptère is in a shipyard and she should be back in the water in spring.

Images from the Hull and Foil Build


Building the foils. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.


Building the foils. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.


Building the hulls. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.


Building the hulls. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.

In More Detail

Thierry Lombard, whose family has been supporting great adventures for over two centuries, along with his son Adrien, gave longevity to the Hydroptère project and also a new dimension with two new boats in sight and more specifically in the building of l’Hyrdoptère.ch.

Their support since 2005 has also made certain partnerships possible, especially with the EPFL and has led to the creation of the scientific pole on the campus.


L’Hydroptère.ch in plan. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.

The programmes led by the Hydroptère team are scientific and technological projects, whose purpose is to revolutionize the world of sailing and further develop the innovative concept of flying boats.

l’Hydroptère.ch registers in this global approach and will serve as a lab boat whose main purpose is to test geometries and behaviours in the real conditions required for the development of l’Hydroptère maxi.


L’Hydroptère [the original] leaves only spray in her wake at 51 knots. Image copyright Guilain Grenier.

Following the same experimental process as Alain Thébault who built three models before the existing 60 ft trimaran, the main purpose of l’Hydroptère.ch will be to test geometries and behaviours in real conditions in order to design l’Hydroptère maxi.

l’Hydroptère.ch will be based in Lausanne, Switzerland, close to a part of the Design Team Hydroptère, which is in charge of her development, and close to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).


L’Hydroptère.ch in flight. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.

The design studies for l’Hydroptère.ch were carried out jointly by our engineers, our “Papés”, the EPFL-laboratories involved in the project but also all the engineering offices collaborating with the Design Team Hydroptère, which coordinates all these people.

The design of l’Hydroptère.ch was focused on the desire to maintain and optimize the equipment related to the boat’s speed and behaviour “in flight” whilst developing points such as versatility and navigation in light winds. These two elements will be decisive for l’Hydroptère maxi to attempt oceanic records (Atlantic and Pacific) or Jules Verne’s Trophy around the world.


Front view of l’Hydroptère.ch. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.

The geometry of l’Hydroptère.ch is innovative as she is a 35ft catamaran with a central structural peak and v-shaped foils.

She will be equipped with a centreboard to sail with the foils out of the water when conditions are not favourable for “take-off” and no more with only one rear tail unit as on l'Hydroptère but with two rear tail units known as rudder-elevator. This will improve the balance in flight. The rigging was designed so as to meet a wide range of weather conditions.

The building of l’Hydroptère.ch is Swiss-French following the example of the project.


L’Hydroptère.ch rear view. Image copyright l’Hydroptère.

It has started in Brittany at the shipyard B&B in La Trinité sur Mer. B&B is charged with the manufacture of the centreboard, the cross beams, the rear tail units as well as the foils.

The shipyard Décision SA of Bertrand Cardis, located in Ecublens close to Lausanne, will start the building of the floaters and the central structural peak in June.
l’Hydroptère.ch will be totally constructed of high-tech materials in order to get the best weight-properties ratios according to each implementation.


L’Hydroptère [the original] at full pelt. Image copyright Guilain Grenier.

l’Hydrotpère.ch aims to validate the choice of a new geometry as well as permitting the effects of numerous parameter combinations to be evaluated based on the boat’s performance. The boat will therefore be a veritable floating laboratory, equipped with ingenious mechanical systems that will enable a multitude of adjustments whilst sailing. The platform as well as all the elements and technologies tested on l’Hydroptère.ch should be transferable to the maxi.

l’Hydroptère