Boat ready, kite launch procedures confirmed and weather forecast favourable: we had to be patient before all these conditions were met in Leucate.
But finally, it is done! We were able to connect a small 12m2 kite to the boat, take it off and land it.
The boat was moored because we wanted to focus on only one thing during this first test: validating the kite’s steering system, from the cockpit to the end of the lines.
Conclusion: everything works! Our co-pilot Benoît was able to quickly take control and manipulate the kite very easily, in around 15/20 knots of wind.
Beyond the technical aspect, it was also a great moment for the team: after years of work, our boat is finally complete, on the water and with a kite. How does she look?
What’s next? Our next goal is to cast off and see what our boat is capable of. The next few months promise to be very exciting!
![SP80](https://cdn.mysailing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/28093838/652ffcd2ef643-1200-1024x317.jpg)
What about the 80 knots (150km/h)?
We’ll have to be patient!
We’ve got a lot to learn with the boat before accelerating step by step. We’re going to be sailing at very low speeds at first, which will allow us to learn a lot without risking the safety of our pilots or the crew onboard the chase-boats, or risking damaging our little rocket.
Setting up in Leucate
Let’s rewind: Before being able to launch a kite on the boat, the team did a lot of work, on land or with the chase-boats, to be ready to sail as soon as possible.
Let’s recap our past months in video!
![SP80 Logo](https://cdn.mysailing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/28093841/SP80-Logo-1024x254.png)