Foiling legend given new life

The 60-foot L’Hydroptere was an experimental hydrofoil launched in 2008, well before the progress seen today. Its last hurrah appeared to be the 2015 Transpace Race in which weak wind conditions did not allow the trimaran to reach record breaking speeds along the course from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Sponsors were unimpressed, leading to the boat being abandoned in Hawaii. With the government ready to scrap it, a couple of do-gooders rescued it from auction in 2019 with the intent of restoration. That effort began with a refit so it could be sailed to San Francisco, and then shipped to France for the rebuild.

After seven years of work, L’Hydroptere is on the verge to continue its story. The 18-metre-long, 24-metre-wide foiling trimaran with a 28-metre mast is once again ready for its return to the water which is expected to be by the end of September.

For more of the story, and photographic documentation of the rebuild, click here.