VIDEO. Aude: the multiple world champion Antoine Albeau tests the windsurfing of the future in Leucate

“To exceed the sailing speed record (65.45 knots-121km / h)” is the objective of the Zephir project led by its co-founders, Audois Antoine Albeau, multiple world champion in windsurfing, and the Marseillais Marc Amerigo, project manager, recognized engineer and himself holder of several speed records. In order to achieve their objective, they carried out, this Monday November 29 and Tuesday November 30, the tests of the first prototypes of the windsurfing of the future at La Palme, near Leucate.

For the first time in real life

In extreme conditions with polar cold, irregular wind and sandbanks which made navigation difficult, the tests were still able to take place. “The objective was to try out a whole new material, to make measurements, and to have, for the first time in real situation, complete configurations resulting from all the studies and simulations which were carried out within the framework of the Zephir project”, explains Marc Amerigo. “Antoine, 25 times world champion in the discipline, was able to experience the first sensations, test several types of foils and sails. It’s a good start, even if the conditions did not allow us to approach a record, it was not the objective “.

The tests at the start of the week made it possible to study the sails in particular, but also the submerged parts of the board. It was necessary, for example, to solve the problems of instability and drag generated by the float and its appendages underwater. The solution could come from a combination of hull planing up to an intermediate speed, then relayed by a system of evolving foils and piloted to bring flight stability to the pilot at very high speed.

Live at the Nautic Show, December 10

In their quest for the world record, Antoine Albeau and Marc Amerigo surrounded themselves with a team of 80 international experts in order to take the opposite view of thermal or electric motors. Like Formula 1 in the automotive world, the “Zephir Project” is a veritable high performance laboratory. The objective is to fully exploit the potential of the forces of nature to aim for absolute skiing, eco-responsible and accessible to all, without being limited by weather conditions.

A technical and human adventure that you will be able to discover from December 4 to 12 in Hall 1 of the Nautic show, Porte de Versailles in Paris. A conference open to the general public will be given by Antoine Albeau and Marc Amerigo on the ZephirProject stand F14, Friday December 10 at 5 p.m., just before the evening of the show.

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