how fast yachts can go

How Fast Is A Yacht? 3 Types Checked (With 9 Examples)

Different types of boats require various speeds for maneuvering in various water types and for doing diverse activities.

Depending on what you want to do with your vessel, you might need it to travel at a certain speed.

How Fast Are Yachts?

Yachts differ in speeds depending on the type of boat, with mega-yachts and ocean sport boats being the fastest (at over 30 MPH), cruisers, and deck boats falling second (at an average speed of 23 MPH), then pontoons, and sailboats averaging 10 MPH.

Here’s everything you should know about how fast yachts can go:

Table of Contents

First, How do we Define a “Yacht”?

First, let’s make sure we are talking about the same thing. After all, different types of boats sail at different speeds.

Yachts are boats (sail or power) used for racing, cruising, or just for pleasure.

It is a general term, which makes the question, “What is the average speed of a yacht?” a complicated one to answer.

Yachts can range in length between mini yachts, measured at 23 feet (seven meters), to superyachts, which are at least 78 feet long.

Before covering how fast each type of yacht can travel, here is a quick and dirty list of yachts that this article will cover:

• Has a single deck above the hull with below-deck living quarters. They are normally sleek and sporty.
• Control station, seating, and lounge space.
• It is a large, recreational, and motor-powered boat with multiple decks and a larger interior main deck than a flybridge.
• A yacht that has an enclosed living space and that is longer than 80 feet.
• A yacht that is built and used for fishing. Normally has a large cockpit to store fishing essentials. It is often faster than regular motor-yachts to get to the fishing grounds and back quickly.
• Pontoon boats lie flat on the water, balancing on two (or three) aluminum tubes, instead of having a V-shaped hull like deck boats. This makes them more stable for entertaining large groups of people.
• Primarily uses sails for propulsion instead of a motor (though most have a motor for back-up or to assist with the sails). Most are used for sport, but there are quite a few leisure sailing boat clubs and organizations these days.

The yachts that fall into categories 1 – 6 are motorized but are all smaller than superyachts.

For the rest of the article, the term “motorized yachts” or “powerboats” will refer to one of these.

How Fast Does my Yacht Need to be?

The answer to this question depends on what you want to do with your yacht.

If you’re a fisherman that needs to only troll through calm waters, it might be best if your boat travels with a top speed of around 15 MPH.

But if you’re looking to hit the open waters and speed around with the wind in your hair, you might want something a bit faster than that.

While you’re shopping for boats, and considering the top speeds for each type, ask yourself:

• What activities will you be doing on your boat?
• What sort of waters will I be traveling on?
• What activities will I be doing, which will utilize its top speed?

How Does the Speed of a Boat Affect its Fuel Consumption?

This depends on the type of boat you use. For ease of reference, the Formula 240 Bowrider speedboat (a 24-foot motorboat) is a good example of an average boat.

When cruising at 7 MPH, it consumes approximately three gallons an hour. When you double the speed, it consumes double the fuel (seven gallons an hour at 15 MPH). At 30 MPH, it will use about 11 gallons.

A general rule of thumb is that mid-range speed will offer the best fuel efficiency.

There is no need to merely putter around the water to save money.

How Fast Should I Go on a Yacht?

Unfortunately, there aren’t any speed limit signs out in the open water. Because of that, sailors and boaters have to calculate the speed limit depending on at least three different factors: the time of day, the type of boat, and the type of waterway.

The speed limit for boats is rarely a specific numerical figure. Instead, look for safety concerns, warning signs (like “No Wake Zones”), and rules often posted on the docks.

Watch out for “No Wake Zones,” which can cost a hefty fine if you are caught in violation and can be dangerous to people, animals, and property in the area. Most speedboats and other motorboats can cause a wake in as little as 5 MPH.

If you are close to a river, shore, or populated areas, you have to tread on the side of caution. However, once you are out in open water (like the ocean or a large lake with no one around), you can test out your boat’s top speed.

Make certain that you can:

• See an open pathway of water.
• See no obstacles (people, vehicles, animals, jetsam, or debris)
• Have observed the rules posted at the dock or pier

What are the Top 10 Fastest Yachts on the Market Today?

This list will consist of a variety of motorized yachts, powerboats, and superyachts.

Superyachts are so big; they need a more powerful engine.

For example, the Astro by Baia Yachts uses triple 2,430hp MTU engines and can put out 7 290 hp at its max.

It can go about 57 MPH or 50 knots! And that’s not even fast enough for our top ten list!

10) “The Chato” (built by Baglietto)

The Chato is an 84.61-foot yacht with accommodations for up to six people.

It is an all-aluminum speed demon with two MTU diesel engines, which propel it forward at a whopping 65.59 mph.

9) “Ermis 2 ” (by McMullen & Wing)

The Ermis is a 123.23-foot yacht made of carbon-fiber to make it both light and sleek.

The triple waterjets (MTU 16V 4000 M90 series) push it forward with 11,000 hp, making it fly across the water at a top speed of 63.29 mph.

8) “Black Bullet” (by Otam)

The Black Bullet is an 83.7-foot yacht, is the fastest yacht in the Otam 80 series.

It can accommodate two crew and six guests and moves quickly with four diesel engines.

How quick? 66.7 mph quick.

7) “Oci Ciornie” (by Palmer Johnson)

The Oci Ciornie is an 82-foot yacht that uses a 4,600 horsepower AVCO Lycoming gas turbines, an Arneson surface drives, and twin 1,800 horsepower MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines to propel it forward to 69 mph.

Vroom, vroom.

6) “The Brave Challenger” (by Vosper)

This yacht tops out at 69 mph because of her three gas turbine engines. Together, they generate about 13,620 horsepower. In addition to that, she also has two conventional engines to help her move around the water a little easier when she needs to cruise at a slower speed.

Originally named Mercury, she was built for Stavros Niarchos, a Greek shipping tycoon.

5) “Kereon” (the second boat on our list by AB Yachts)

The Kereon is an 88.6-foot yacht that can top out at 71 mph because of its three diesel engines. She has three 2,250 horsepower CRM diesel engines that were designed by Angelo Arnaboldi, a naval architect.

The Kereon can accommodate six guests in three cabins. She also has a massive fuel tank, which can hold 3170 gallons of fuel. That means she can go approximately 900 nautical miles on one tank of fuel.

4) “Gentry Eagle” (by Vosper Thornycroft)

The Gentry Eagle is a 111.88-foot yacht built for and by Tom Gentry (who worked with Vosper Thornycroft). If his name sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because he set almost every powerboat speed record today. He won the Blue Riband (the award for the fastest passage across the Atlantic) with a record time of 62 hours and seven minutes. The Gentry Eagle beat Richard Branson’s record by 23%.

Talk about fast.

It tops out at 73.64 mph.

3) “Galeocerdo” (by Rodriquez)

The Galeocerdo is a 118.1-foot yacht powered by three Vericor TF50 gas turbines (which drive three Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jets).

The Galeocerdo tops out at 74 mph.

2) “The World Is Not Enough” (by Millenium Super Yachts)

This yacht is a 138.45-foot yacht that can accommodate 10 guests and can go 77.1 mph.

It is propelled by two Lycoming gas turbines and two Paxman diesel engines.

1) “Foners” (by Izar)

The Foners is a 136.15-foot yacht made specifically for King Juan Carlos of Spain’s royal yacht. It was also built for speed with two 1,280 horsepower MAN engines.

But that’s not all, and it also has three Rolls Royce 6,700 horsepower gas turbines that drive three Kamewa water jets.

How fast does it go? It tops out at 80.5 mph!

What’s the Fastest Motorized Yacht in the World?

The record for the fastest boat was set at 317.6 MPH .

Ken Warby was using a speedboat (powered by a jet engine instead of a regular boat motor) called the “Spirit of Australia.”

This was not included on the fastest yacht list because of its unique circumstances.

Final Thoughts:

Choosing the right yacht for you and your needs is a big decision. Make sure you know what you will do with your boat before you buy a boat strictly built for speed.

The bragging rights in owning a boat that can go 80 mph on the water is great.

But if you are only going to use it for trolling or fishing, it would be a waste on your pocketbook and for the boat.

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Sail GP: how do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains

Head of Engineering, Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering, Solent University

Disclosure statement

Jonathan Ridley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Sailing used to be considered as a rather sedate pastime. But in the past few years, the world of yacht racing has been revolutionised by the arrival of hydrofoil-supported catamarans, known as “foilers”. These vessels, more akin to high-performance aircraft than yachts, combine the laws of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics to create vessels capable of speeds of up to 50 knots, which is far faster than the wind propelling them.

An F50 catamaran preparing for the Sail GP series recently even broke this barrier, reaching an incredible speed of 50.22 knots (57.8mph) purely powered by the wind. This was achieved in a wind of just 19.3 knots (22.2mph). F50s are 15-metre-long, 8.8-metre-wide hydrofoil catamarans propelled by rigid sails and capable of such astounding speeds that Sail GP has been called the “ Formula One of sailing ”. How are these yachts able to go so fast? The answer lies in some simple fluid dynamics.

As a vessel’s hull moves through the water, there are two primary physical mechanisms that create drag and slow the vessel down. To build a faster boat you have to find ways to overcome the drag force.

The first mechanism is friction. As the water flows past the hull, a microscopic layer of water is effectively attached to the hull and is pulled along with the yacht. A second layer of water then attaches to the first layer, and the sliding or shearing between them creates friction.

On the outside of this is a third layer, which slides over the inner layers creating more friction, and so on. Together, these layers are known as the boundary layer – and it’s the shearing of the boundary layer’s molecules against each other that creates frictional drag.

A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat. The waves form two distinctive patterns around the yacht (one at each end), known as Kelvin Wave patterns.

These waves, which move at the same speed as the yacht, are very energetic. This creates drag on the boat known as the wave-making drag, which is responsible for around 90% of the total drag. As the yacht accelerates to faster speeds (close to the “hull speed”, explained later), these waves get higher and longer.

These two effects combine to produce a phenomenon known as “ hull speed ”, which is the fastest the boat can travel – and in conventional single-hull yachts it is very slow. A single-hull yacht of the same size as the F50 has a hull speed of around 12 mph.

However, it’s possible to reduce both the frictional and wave-making drag and overcome this hull-speed limit by building a yacht with hydrofoils . Hydrofoils are small, underwater wings. These act in the same way as an aircraft wing, creating a lift force which acts against gravity, lifting our yacht upwards so that the hull is clear of the water.

While an aircraft’s wings are very large, the high density of water compared to air means that we only need very small hydrofoils to produce a lot of the important lift force. A hydrofoil just the size of three A3 sheets of paper, when moving at just 10 mph, can produce enough lift to pick up a large person.

This significantly reduces the surface area and the volume of the boat that is underwater, which cuts the frictional drag and the wave-making drag, respectively. The combined effect is a reduction in the overall drag to a fraction of its original amount, so that the yacht is capable of sailing much faster than it could without hydrofoils.

The other innovation that helps boost the speed of racing yachts is the use of rigid sails . The power available from traditional sails to drive the boat forward is relatively small, limited by the fact that the sail’s forces have to act in equilibrium with a range of other forces, and that fabric sails do not make an ideal shape for creating power. Rigid sails, which are very similar in design to an aircraft wing, form a much more efficient shape than traditional sails, effectively giving the yacht a larger engine and more power.

As the yacht accelerates from the driving force of these sails, it experiences what is known as “ apparent wind ”. Imagine a completely calm day, with no wind. As you walk, you experience a breeze in your face at the same speed that you are walking. If there was a wind blowing too, you would feel a mixture of the real (or “true” wind) and the breeze you have generated.

The two together form the apparent wind, which can be faster than the true wind. If there is enough true wind combined with this apparent wind, then significant force and power can be generated from the sail to propel the yacht, so it can easily sail faster than the wind speed itself.

The combined effect of reducing the drag and increasing the driving power results in a yacht that is far faster than those of even a few years ago. But all of this would not be possible without one further advance: materials. In order to be able to “fly”, the yacht must have a low mass, and the hydrofoil itself must be very strong. To achieve the required mass, strength and rigidity using traditional boat-building materials such as wood or aluminium would be very difficult.

This is where modern advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre come in. Production techniques optimising weight, rigidity and strength allow the production of structures that are strong and light enough to produce incredible yachts like the F50.

The engineers who design these high-performance boats (known as naval architects ) are always looking to use new materials and science to get an optimum design. In theory, the F50 should be able to go even faster.

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How Fast Do Boats Go? (20 Boat Types Checked)

Just like cars, there are many factors that go into determining the top speed each boat can go. The shape, engine, hull material and weight all play a significant role in determining the top speed. However, in this article, we will break down all the different boat types and explain how fast you should expect them to be able to go.

Most boats will go about 30-60 mph. Generally, boats such as pontoon boats, cabin cruisers, yachts, and trawlers have a top speed closer to 30 mph or less. Other boat types such as bass boats, ski boats, center consoles, and cuddy cabins will go closer to 60 mph or more.

Other boat types such as sailboats, dingies, and tug boats usually will only reach speeds of 10-20 mph. While jet skis, go-fast boats, and some bass boats can reach speeds of 55-100 mph.

Table of Contents

20 different boat types and how fast they go

Related article: How Fast Are Jet Skis? (12 Examples Included)

What are the factors that determine how fast a boat can go?

As you can see, the speed of a boat can be drastically different, even ones of the same type. There are many factors that determine speed, such as engine horsepower, drive type, boat shape, boat weight, trim tabs, weather conditions, and more. However, in this article, we’re going to simplify it to the four that affect the boat the most.

1. Engine Horsepower

The amount of force propelling your boat forward is the number one factor that affects the speed of your boat. The more horsepower you have, the faster your boat will go. However, manufacturers set a limit to how much horsepower you can have depending on each type of boat they make.

This means many boat types are limited to only the speed they can reach with the maximum amount of horsepower allowed (which is usually plenty of speed).

Many times larger boats will put multiple engines in the back of their boat in order to get more power and travel faster, as shown in the image below.

2. Drive/engine type

There are generally three different types of boat engine types. These are outboards, inboards, and stern drives. Generally, outboards are the lightest, so they tend to be able to move a boat slightly faster than the other engine types. However, you can have more horsepower per engine with inboard and sterndrive engines.

The only thing that really affects the speed is the drive type. These consist of a jet drive, I/O, straight shaft, and V-drives.

Generally, jet drives lose the most amount of horsepower when transferring power from the engine to the jet. This means that a propeller-powered boat with a 200-horsepower engine may need to have a 250-300 horsepower engine to go the same speed at full throttle if it were jet drive.

Stern drives come in second when it comes to power loss. They lose about 10%-15% of the engine horsepower when converting it into the propeller. This is because they have to redirect power twice.

V-drive next, they lose about 6%-15%. This is because of the extra joint they need in order to transfer the drive shaft to the correct position. This causes them to have to redirect power at almost a 180-degree angle.

Straight shaft drives are the most efficient at turning engine horsepower into power for the propeller (this means they are the fastest considering engines with the same horsepower). This is because there are no areas where there needs to be power redirected. The drivetrain goes directly from the engine to the propeller.

3. Boat weight

Obviously, the heavier the boat, the slower it’s going to go with the same engine. So many manufacturers try to make their boats as light as possible, especially if they’re building a boat for speed, such as go-fast catamarans.

Aluminum boats weigh less than fiberglass boats, which means aluminum boats of the same size and same engine will generally go faster than fiberglass boats. However, most aluminum boats have an engine horsepower limit that is much lower than fiberglass boats, meaning they generally end up only being able to go the same speed due to power limits.

4. Boat shape

The design and shape of a boat play a big part in how fast it can go. The more surface area in the water, the more drag a boat will have against the water and the slower it will go. This is why many boats designed for speed will be designed to be very narrow or with catamarans such as the image below:

Meanwhile, boats that don’t care for speed and instead opt for more cargo or living space tend to have much wider hulls and lower drafts. Here is an example of such:

Boat speed calculator

If you know the weight, horsepower, and type of boat, you can get a good estimate of how fast it can go. You can do this by using this boat speed calculator from omnicalculator.com.

They make it really easy to just put in the information, and it will give you an estimate that should be very close to the speed your boat will be able to reach.

For example, I put in the information for my Sea-Doo Fish Pro Scout jet ski, which goes about 52-55 mph at full throttle. The calculator predicted, 57.01 mph, which still could have been my fault as its hard to predict the exact wet weight of the jet ski. You can see this in the image below:

Does speed feel faster when you’re on a boat compared to a vehicle on land?

The quick answer to this is, absolutely it does. When you’re on a boat, your open to the wind and water blistering past you as you pick up speed. This makes everything seem faster than on land. Even if you’re in an enclosed boat, the feel of cutting through water and bouncing to waves makes you feel more vulnerable when compared to being in a car, which means you feel as if you are going faster.

One thing to note is that the smaller your boat is, the faster you will feel like you are going. Going 40 mph in a big enclosed cabin cruiser may seem faster than in a car, but it doesn’t even compare to the feeling of going 40 mph on a jet ski.

The fact that some jet skis can reach 70 mph is absolutely astonishing. On my Sea-Doo jet ski, it’s hard to go any faster than 40 mph because I feel one bad wave will bump me off the thing if I go any faster. I couldn’t even imagine 70 mph.

Why would you need speed for a boat?

Although it’s fun and all to go fast on the water, for most of us, it’s really not necessary. Generally, it’s going to cost more for boats that go faster, when you could easily get a similar boat that goes a little slower for much cheaper. That being said, here are the main reasons you would want a boat that is fast:

• You fish in tournaments and need to get to fishing spots as quickly as possible
• You want to partake in a poker run
• You need to travel long distances every time you take your boat out
• You just enjoy going fast

Although many people max out the horsepower they are allowed to put on their boat (some even add more than what they are allowed to) to make it as fast as possible, is that really worth it to you? Believe me, 50 mph is plenty of speed for any boat type as long as you don’t absolutely need to go any faster than that.

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The 13 Fastest Superyachts in the World

These boats prove that size doesn't have to mean slow..

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When American businessman John Staluppi embarked on his yachting journey, it was to break records. He wanted his first yacht to be the first boat over 100 feet to exceed 30 knots, or 34.5 mph. He achieved it with the 118-foot For Your Eyes Only, delivered in 1985. It was also the first motoryacht in the US to have a combination of MTU diesel engines with water-jet propulsion.

His second yacht would smash all previous records. Delivered by Heesen in 1988, Octopussy fulfilled the Bond enthusiast’s aim to break the then 50-knot barrier with a top end of 53.17 knots (61 mph)—a speed that every other shipyard at the time said couldn’t be done. Octopussy  immediately entered the record books as the world’s fastest yacht.

“That record was important to me because when you pull into any place there’s always a bigger boat or a prettier boat, but there aren’t many people who can say, ‘Hey, this is the fastest yacht in the world,’” Staluppi told Robb Report .

Heesen’s latest delivery, the 197-foot Ultra G , is one of the Dutch yard’s fastest projects these days, with a propulsion package totaling 22,000 horsepower, including four water jets that deliver a top speed of 37 knots (42.57 mph).

Of course, 43 mph is a paltry number compared to many of the yachts on this list, including the new Bolide 80. That Italian stallion, which will make its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show, runs at a blistering 84 mph. It shows that speed, even in the large motoryacht category, is very much alive.

Here are 13 of the fastest motoryachts, past and present, that have ever been on the water.

1. Bolide 80 | 84 mph

Victory Marine calls the Bolide 80 its first “Hyper Muscle Yacht,” which will be part of a limited-edition series from 60 to 170 feet. Designer Brunello Acampora and his tema of engineers pulled out all the stops on this 80, creating a full-carbon-fiber boat with more than 6,000 horsepower. The multi-stepped hull helps propel the Bolide to its top speed of 70 knots (84 mph), while accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of burning about half the fuel of a much smaller flybridge motoryacht at lower cruising speeds. The designer took care to give the Bolide a streamlined profile, with aerodynamic shapes to reduce resistance. The interior includes the captain’s cabin, a full-sized galley, open salon, and a forward owner’s area with a bedroom, en suite and wardrobe area. It will make its global debut at the Monaco Yacht Show.

2. ‘Foners’ | 80.56 mph

Clocking a thrilling 70.10 knots (80.56 mph), the 136-foot Foners has maintained pole position as the world’s fastest superyacht for over 20 years. Powered by two 1,280hp MAN engines coupled to three Rolls-Royce 6,700 hp gas turbines driving three KaMeWa water jets, the all-aluminum boat is less about piercing waves and more about parting the seas. Delivered in 2000 by Spanish shipyard Izar as the King of Spain’s royal yacht, no expense was spared, including a superstructure lined with Aramid fiber for the express purpose of bulletproofing the interior.

3. ‘World Is Not Enough’ | 77.1 mph

You need to only look at the 007-inspired name to know that World Is Not Enough is another rapid racer commissioned by John Staluppi, this time with an opulent interior designed by his wife Jeanette in partnership with Evan K Marshall. Delivered in 2004 by Millennium Super Yachts, the 139-footer is powered by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines to produce a staggering 20,600hp and a breathtaking 67 knots (77.1 mph). When not leaving other boats behind, World Is Not Enough has a cruising range of 3800 nautical miles at a comfortable speed of 10 knots.

4. ‘Galeocerdo’ | 74.8 mph

Wally founder Luca Bassani designed the 118-foot Galeocerdo to maintain speed in rough seas. Launched in 2003 by Rodriquez Yachts, the boat racks up an eye-watering 65 knots (74.8 mph), thanks to its three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each driving a Rolls-Royce KaMeWa water jet. Another performance-enhancing feature is the lightweight titanium exhaust system designed to resist the extreme temperatures generated by the gas turbines. Wind tunnel tested at the Ferrari facility in Maranello, Italy, the boat generates 16,800hp and a 45-knot (51.8-mph) cruising speed that’s faster than most motoryachts running flat out. It also enjoys a highly futuristic exterior design.

5. Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 | 72.5 mph

When Italian supercar brand Lamborghini teamed up with yachting stalwart The Italian Sea Group, the end result had to be style and performance. The Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 is all about the power of ‘63’. Designed and built to celebrate the year 1963 when Ferruccio Lamborghini founded his car company, the 63-footer delivers a whiplashing top speed of 63 knots (72.5 mph). And naturally, it’s one of just 63 in the series that will ever be made. Built out of carbon fiber, it’s fitted with two MAN V12-2000HP engines. MMA fighter Conor McGregor took delivery of hull number one in 2020, which reportedly cost $4 million.

6. ‘Chato’ | 71.9 mph

Back in the mid-1980s, passionate Baglietto customer and leading US Porsche and VW dealer Baron John von Neumann, commissioned a new 85-ft. speed demon from the Italian builder. The entrepreneur was tired of his 34-knot (39-mph) Baglietto getting creamed from Monaco to St. Tropez by faster cruisers. With a hull design by the legendary Alcide Sculati, the all-aluminum Chato came with MTU’s latest 3,480hp V16s coupled to KaMeWa waterjets. Weighing 60 tons, and packing almost 7,000 hp, the military-looking superyacht with its battleship-gray paint and bright-red diagonal hull stripes, hit an astonishing top speed of 62.5 knots (71.9 mph) during sea trials. Chato is currently for sale in the South of France for $715,000.

7. ‘Oci Ciornie’ | 69.04 mph

Oci Ciornie’s Vripack-designed interior may take inspiration from aircraft designs, but it’s the boat’s naval architecture by Don Shead and the combination of two 1,800hp MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines, a 4,600 hp AVCO Lycoming gas turbine and Arneson surface drives that put it on this list. Delivered in 1998 by Palmer Johnson with an aluminum hull, the 82-foot boat thrusts through water at 60 knots (69.04 mph), giving all eight guests the waterborne ride of their lives.

8. ‘Destriero’ | 68 mph

The numbers almost defy logic. With a length of 224 feet, the all-aluminum superyacht Destriero is massive. Now add a trio of GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines totaling an insane 60,000 hp and the incredulity only increases. Flat out, Destriero could scythe through waves at a staggering 59 knots, or 68 mph. Back in 1992, just one year after its launch, the Fincantieri-built rocketship showed its chops by challenging the famous Blue Riband trans-Atlantic speed record. Averaging 53.09 knots for the 3,106 nautical-mile run, Destriero shattered the record, only to be denied the trophy for being classed as a private yacht and not a commercial passenger vessel. Sadly, today the iconic yacht lies largely abandoned at one of Lurssen’s yards in Germany, awaiting rescue.

9. ‘Ermis²’ | 65.59 mph

Some yachts feature slippery hull designs, others are propelled by rockets, but the McMullen & Wing-built Ermis² is one of the fastest yachts on the superyacht circuit thanks to its lightweight materials. Built from a combination of carbon/epoxy, aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium, the 123-foot boat taps out at 57 knots (65.59 mph.) Delivered in 2007, its 10,944 horsepower comes from three MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines. Designed inside and out by Rob Humphreys, its classic looks disguise the speed demon within.

10. ‘Why Not U’ | 63.3 mph

Why Not U is a yacht that comfortably cruises at 47 knots (54.1 mph)—a speed most owners only dream of reaching. When time is of the essence, the boat cranks up its Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines to max out at 55 knots (63.3 mph). Delivered by Overmarine in 2001, Why Not U ’s 4.3-foot draft makes it well suited for cruising shallow waters, while its sunbathing areas allow guests to catch some rays traveling at the speed of light.

11. ‘Alamshar’ | 52 mph

Alamshar is another custom collaboration between Donald Blount and Pininfarina commissioned by Aga Khan IV, this time with interiors by Redman Whiteley Dixon. It was reportedly built for an estimated $200 million at the Devonport shipyard in Falmouth, United Kingdom, and took 13 years to complete. When it was eventually delivered in 2014, Alamshar’s top speed of 45 knots (51.78 mph), generated by twin Rolls-Royce Marine engines and three waterjets, seemed worth the wait.

12. ‘Moon Goddess’ | 51.78 mph

Exterior designed by Espen Øino with an interior by Franco Zuretti, the all-aluminum Moon Goddess is a 115-foot yacht with a turquoise hull that matches the color of its oversized leather sunpads. When cruising at 30 knots (34.52 mph) or tearing up the oceans at 45 knots (51.78 mph), most other boats just catch a glimpse of sea spray that the planing yacht leaves in its wake. It’s powered by twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines with twin water jets, which generate a combined 7,498 hp.

13. ‘Azzam’ | 35.7 mph

At a staggering 590 feet bow-to-stern, the Lurssen-built Azzam earns the title of world’s longest privately owned gigayacht. But with its remarkable-for-the-size top speed of 31 knots (35.7 mph), it’s also the fastest. Twin 12,000hp MTU V20 turbo-diesels do the day-to-day powering at up to 18 knots (20.7 mph). But crank up the twin GE LM2500 gas turbines, coupled to four Wartsila waterjets, and there’s a staggering 94,000hp on tap. Of course, like Azzam ‘s original owner, it helps if you own a few oil wells: At max speed, the yacht reportedly burns 13 tons of fuel an hour. Launched in 2013 at a reported cost of some $600 million, Azzam accommodates 30 guests pampered by up to 80 crew.

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How Fast Does a Boat Go? (Including Speed By Boat Type Chart!)

Explore boat speeds across types with our chart! Learn how factors like design & horsepower impact speed, from sailboats at 8 mph to jet boats over 200 mph.

Whether using your boat for transportation or recreation, you need to know how to use it properly. Part of your responsibility is knowing how fast a boat can go so you stay within its limits. The type of boat will influence its speed, but there are average speeds you can consider when looking for a new vessel.

The average speed of a recreational boat is between 10 and 40 miles per hour. Jet-powered boats and racing boats can surpass 200 miles per hour, with the fastest boat on record going 317 mph. A sailboat averages 8 mph, a yacht 50 mph, and a pontoon 22 mph. Many factors influence a boat’s speed.

Depending on your boat’s design and weight, the engine, water temperature and depth, and the wind, boat speed can vary. Understanding the average speed of various boats is a good starting point for finding the right watercraft for you.

What Are the Average Speeds for Different Types of Boats?

You can average 8 miles per hour on a sailboat or reach top speeds of 200+ miles per hour on certain racing boats. Therefore, the type of boat has a significant impact on how fast it will go. But most recreational-style boats go between 10 and 40 miles per hour.

When operating a boat, it's wise to know the average speed as well as the max speed. Of course, regardless of how fast your boat can go, always make sure to abide by any local laws, limits, and restrictions.

Average Speeds of Boats

Here is a glimpse at the average and top speeds of various popular boat categories. Keep in mind that these figures are a rough average since different boat models within each category can have some drastic differences in speed. This difference exists because of things like engine horsepower, hull shape, boat weight, and more.

How Many Miles Per Hour Is One Knot?

One mile per hour is equivalent to 0.869 knots. This conversion is essential to know since many boats will use knots to describe their speed. In some places, boating speed limits might also use knots. 

If you find a boat that claims to reach top speeds of 50 knots, it can go about 57 to 58 miles per hour. If you're near a no-wake zone, you typically can't go more than 5 miles per hour or 4.3 knots.

Is 50 MPH Fast for a Boat?

Smaller boats and those with open helms will feel very fast at 50 miles per hour. But high-speed crafts, larger boats, or closed vessels may feel slow at 50 mph. 

Compared to a sailboat gliding along at 10 mph, 50 can feel super speedy. But you'd likely feel like you're grounded in the slow lane next to a racing boat zipping by at 120 mph. Regardless, 50 mph is still fast when you think about the overall picture.

You're still covering quite a bit of distance in a very short period of time. It's important to keep this in mind to account for your reaction time and any obstacles that might appear in the water. 

Can Boats Go 100 MPH?

There are speed boats that can go 100 mph, high-speed racing boats that go 180 mph, and jet boats that top 200. But 100 miles per hour is fast, so you’d likely go these speeds with racing boats. Recreational boats don’t go this fast.

How Fast Is the Fastest Boat?

Currently, the fastest boat on record is a jet-powered hydroplane called The Spirit of Australia at 317 miles per hour. Ken Warby's boat reached 317.58 miles per hour in 1978 on Blowering Dam Lake in New South Wales. 

However, this was just the official fastest speed. It's actually estimated that the craft reached almost 345 miles per hour almost one year earlier. Warby and his son have since designed and constructed The Spirit of Australia II with the hopes of one day surpassing the record.

How Fast Do Recreational Boats Go?

Recreational boats average between 10 and 40 miles per hour, depending on the style. A sailboat typically has a cruising speed of about 7 to 8 miles per hour. Racing sailboats can reach speeds up to 17 mph.

Smaller fishing boats , like bass boats, can go 30 to 50 miles per hour, while larger trawlers top out at around 23 mph. Ski boats go between 18 and 36 miles per hour.

Most motorboats reach max speeds of 90 to 100 mph. However, you can also find motorboats with powerful engines that can surpass 200 miles per hour.

What Is the Average Fishing Boat Speed?

Fishing boat speeds average about 30 miles per hour, with many going about 7 mph and some reaching 80 mph. It’s hard to pinpoint one average speed for a fishing boat since you can find many types.

The speed of your fishing boat will also depend highly on the power of your motor. Therefore, when shopping for a fishing boat, decide where you will use it most and how. Then you can determine the top speeds you’ll need to reach and how much horsepower you’ll need.

What Factors Can Affect a Boat’s Speed?

A boat’s design and weight, water depth and temperature, the wind, and your boat’s engine all affect the speed. If you want to determine how fast your boat can go, these are the factors you need to consider.

Typically, the longer the boat, the faster it will go. Also, if the hull moves on the water (a planing hull) instead of pushing it away, the boat will go faster.

If instead, your boat has a monohull, it will push more water away as it goes, causing it to move slower. This slower speed is because when the hull has more contact with water, it increases friction. The increased friction is what makes the boat move at a slower speed.

If the hull has a round, flat bottom, it will move at slower speeds. Many boats with this shape hull are pontoons, sailboats, and fishing boats.

However, boats with v-shaped hulls move on top of the water and reach higher speeds. You’ll find this hull shape on many racing boats.

The Boat’s Weight

The heavier the boat, the more friction between the water and the boat’s hull, leading to a slower speed. A boat displaces the water around it, usually as much as the boat weighs. In other words, if your boat weighs 1,500 pounds, it will displace 1,500 pounds of water.

To put it another way, your boat has an extra 1,500 pounds in water it must move as it goes. When you consider it this way, you can see why heavier boats will move at slower speeds.

Water Depth

Your boat will go slower in shallow water because of reduced pressure beneath the vessel. The water under the boat moves faster in shallow water, and your boat will need to work harder to push it away.

Additionally, your boat will need to displace more water to stay afloat. Therefore, this increases the friction, which means slower speeds.

Type of Engine

The more horsepower your engine has, the faster your boat will go. It’s reasonable to consider a more powerful motor will allow your boat to travel at faster speeds.

When you combine the engine power with the boat weight, you can start to get a clearer picture of your boat’s speed. For example, a 5,000-pound boat might go about 25 to 26 mph with a 150-hp engine.

However, that same engine could move a lightweight racer up to 80 miles per hour. An engine with 50 hp might not seem super powerful. But on a lightweight craft, it can move along nicely. However, you might feel like you’re barely moving on a heavier boat.

A 2,000-pound racing boat with a 300-hp engine can go about 81 mph, while a 1,000-pound racer goes 115 mph. Put that same 300-hp engine on a 5,000-pound cruiser, and it will only go about 36 mph.

Temperature of the Water

Boats tend to go faster in warmer water and slower in colder water. Colder water temperatures tend to be denser. 

Denser water consists of thicker water molecules, which increases the friction between the water and the hull. Once again, this increased friction means slower speeds for your boat.

The wind can influence your boat’s speed by making it faster or slower depending on which way it’s blowing. If there is less wind resistance, your boat will move more quickly. Increased wind resistance can slow you down, especially if you are in a sailboat. 

How Do You Calculate Your Boat’s Average Speed?

To calculate your boat’s average speed, you need to know the horsepower, displacement, and Crouch’s constant. Crouch’s constant depends on the type of boat. Most recreational boats have a Crouch constant of 150.

Higher speed boats have a Crouch constant of 190 and racing boats 230. For displacement, use your boat’s weight. (As mentioned before, the amount of water your boat displaces is equal to the boat’s weight.)

Once you have this information, use this formula: 

Speed = sqrt of (horsepower/displacement) X Crouch Constant

Here’s how you can determine the average speed of a 2,200-pound pontoon boat with a 50-hp engine.

Sqrt of (50/2,200) x 150 = 22.61

Of course, if you’re already out on the water, you can simply glance at your boat’s GPS to see what your speed is. You can also get an average speed by considering how fast your boat goes most of the time.

For example, assume most of the time you travel between 20 and 30 miles per hour on your boat. Add these two numbers, divide by two, and you’ll have your average speed. 

20 + 30=50/2=25 mph

What Horsepower Do You Need To Go A Certain Speed In A Boat?

You can determine the necessary horsepower using Crouch’s constant, the desired speed, and boat weight. You use the following formula:

Horsepower = (Speed/Crouch’s Constant) 2 x boat weight

If you want to go 40 miles per hour in a 2,000-pound pontoon, you would do the following.

(40/150) 2 x 2,000 = 142.2

So, in order to reach 40 mph in your 2,000-pound pontoon, you would need a 150-hp engine.

What If Your Boat Goes Too Fast?

If your boat goes too fast, it can become unstable and reckless and also more challenging to stop in time. It's important that you remain in control of your watercraft at all times.

Also, depending on where you are, if you surpass certain speed limits, you could be subject to fines or penalties. For example, speeding through a no-wake or slow-wake zone or near docks and other boaters.

How fast a boat goes depends on its design, weight, and horsepower, as well as the water depth and temperature, and wind. But on average, most recreational watercraft travel between 10 and 40 miles per hour. Racing boats can surpass 200 miles per hour, while cruising sailboats average 8 mph.

To determine your boat’s average speed, all you need to know is the horsepower, boat weight (displacement), and Crouch’s constant. Crouch’s constant depends on the type of boat, but for most recreational vessels, it’s 150.

You can travel 30 to 50 miles per hour on an average bass boat or drift at about 20 mph on a trawler. Do you want to cruise on your pontoon at an average speed of 22 mph or live it up on a yacht going 70 mph? No matter what your speed, you can find lots of fun and relaxation on the waves.

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Go-Fast Boats: Beginner's Guide to the World of Speed

Speed on the water is a rush like no other, and if by chance it captures your imagination you’ll likely spend the rest of your powerboating days chasing it. Not everyone who enters the boating world discovers his or her inner speed gene. But for those who do, it quickly becomes a passion—and likely a lifelong one. 

But assuming you end up on the “love” side of the equation, there are more than a few things that you, as a novice getting into go-fast boating, need to know. What follows is a quick, though by no means comprehensive, question-and-answer guide. It won’t provide everything you need to know, for the education of a powerboat owner, especially in the high-performance realm, never stops. But it will help you understand some of the basics.

Learn More about High Performance Boats

Different Types of Go-Fast Boats

Go-fast boats essentially break into two hull categories: 

• V-bottom (mono hull)
• Catamaran (twin smaller “sponson” hulls with a “tunnel” between them)

Picture “one of those Cigarette boats” and you have a classic V-bottom. Though most are powered by inboard stern-drive engines, a few are offered with outboard-engine power. Their lengths range from 20 to more than 50 feet. Most often, they have single or dual engines. They range from bare bones, meaning a steering wheel, a throttle and two gauges (speedometer and tachometer), to plush with multiple GPS units, front and rear video cameras, FLIR systems, monster stereos, plus cabins and more.

Sticking with the Cigarette mental image, a traditional V-bottom sportboat has a closed deck and a cockpit behind it. Today’s fastest V-bottom sportboats top out at more than 150 MPH.

Center Consoles

More popular these days, however, are V-bottom-based “center consoles” with open-cockpit layouts with bolster seats and lounges from bow to stern and tiny-to-generous cabins inside the consoles. Most high-performance center-consoles are powered by two to four outboards. Top speeds range from 60 to 85 MPH.

Go-Fast Catamarans

Today’s most popular go-fast catamarans range from 28 to 52 feet. Powered by twin inboard engines up to 1,750-HP, they can reach 180 MPH and beyond. Once again, it goes without saying—but still needs to be said—that boats in this rather extreme category take years of experience to learn to handle safely.

A sport catamaran, meaning outboard-engine-powered cats from 28 to 38 feet long, are the hottest things in the go-fast boat segment these days. Equipped with twin outboard racing-style engines, the fastest top out at 130 MPH. Thanks to the outstanding reliability built into today’s outboards and overall ease of use as compared to their larger, higher-maintenance stern-drive counterparts, sport cat popularity has exploded in the last five years.

How Much Does a Go-Fast Boat Cost?

If you’re looking at an entry level new go-fast powerboat, you can expect to spend no less than $100,000. That might seem like a lot of money and, in fact, it is, but it’s not out of line with the pricing in rest of the powerboat world (more than a few ski/wake tow boats list for 50 percent more than that).

Of course, you spend far less than $100,000 in the pre-owned go-fast boat market. On the flip side, you can spend more than $1 million on a new custom creation.

Other Related Costs

Being new to go-fast boating and excited about the world you’re about to enter, this you forget to ask this question. But it’s an important one, so we’re asking it for you.

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: Like all forms of powerboating, the high-performance segments includes costs beyond the boat, the most obvious one being fuel. High-horsepower marine engines demand fuel, often higher octane and hence more-expensive fuel, to make power. And they tend to burn a lot of it. By automotive standards, five miles per gallon is appalling. But powerboating—all powerboating—it’s world-beating, even for outboard engines.

Other costs include insurance, which is higher for go-fast boats than it is for boats in other segments. The faster the boat, the more expensive and expensive and difficult it is to insure. Though high-performance marine engines, especially Mercury Racing’s inboard and outboard offerings, have become far more reliable than they once were, they still require more routine maintenance than the lower output engines found in general-use powerboats.

Costs of Boat Ownership Guide

Go-Fast Boats: Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can high-performance boats go?

To make things simple, we’ll define any powerboat that exceeds 70 MPH as a high-performance boat. These days, there are plenty of boats that can run more than 120 MPH and several models that—with enough horsepower—can top 180 MPH. It should go without saying, but still needs to be said, that the highest tier of performance boats take years of experience and a careful, methodical progression to learn to handle safely.

How do I get involved in high-performance boating?

If your family owned a powerboat, there’s a good chance that you might end up owning one someday. Lifelong boat owners typically were exposed to the activity as children. To the outsider, the whole “powerboating thing” can seem intimidating, whereas those who grow up around boats have a hard-coded comfort level with all that boating entails.

Your best bet if you think a go-fast boat appeals to you? Get a ride in one. There are more than a few dealers around the country who can make that happen for you. If you like it, you’ll move forward. If not, move on.

Assuming you like it, you’ll need to take more rides—and we mean a lot of them—with dealers and builders. Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions and don’t be afraid to go elsewhere if the folks introducing you to the go-fast boating world can’t answer them.

How do I learn to drive (and safely handle) a go-fast boat?

Volumes could be written about the progression of go-fast powerboat ownership, but the most simple and solid path is to start small and work your way up.

• For a novice , trying to dock a 50-foot, twin-engine V-bottom in a crosswind, much less run it at speed, would be a horrific and potentially dangerous experience.
• For a seasoned go-fast boat owner , it’s routine—but routine that always needs to be approach with respect and caution. More than a few owners of big, multi-engine catamarans started with a 20-foot V-bottom. And it took them years, as it will take you, to progress up the ladder.

So be patient. Your life and the life of every passenger in your boat depends on it. And get instruction , whether it be from the manufacturer such as MTI or Nor-Tech or an outfit like the Tres Martin Performance Driving School. Listen, learn, ask lots of questions—there are no dumb ones—and take it slowly.

Nothing is without risk. Your job, through a slow progression to experience and competent instruction, is to do your best to minimize it. In time, you’ll be going plenty fast. That’s just what happens when the aquatic speed bug bites.

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• How fast can yachts go?

The Science Behind Yacht Speed

Being a Melbournian guy, I've always been fascinated by the sea - its waves, the seagulls' songs, the scent of salt in the air, but most importantly, by the vessels conquering its depths. Today, we're diving into something that unites billionaires, sea enthusiasts, and me - yachts. Yes, those sleek hunks of floating innovation and luxury. But I'm not here to wax lyrical about their stunning interiors or open-air cinemas. Today, we are going to hit the gas and unravel the mystery - how fast can yachts actually go?

See, a typical car gallops at an average speed of about 60-70 mph, and that feels fairly quick, especially when you're late to a dinner date. But yachts never seem to be in a rush, do they? Yet, the dynamics of their speed is nothing less than a feat of engineering and design, and that's exactly what we're about to discover.

Factors Influencing Yacht Speed

There's a myriad of factors that influence how fast a yacht can go. It's not as simple as "stomp on the gas and go!" - even if the gas in question costs the price of my car. Some are as tangible as the yacht’s length and weight, the efficiency of the hull design, or the horsepower of its engine(s). Others, however, are less evident like water and wind conditions, the direction of the current, or even the yacht's angle to waves. For instance, did you know that yachts are designed and built to perform optimally in specific conditions? Yes, the sea offers its own version of the 'home ground advantage' to the discerning sailor!

There is also the factor of "hull speed". This is a term that you wouldn't necessarily hear in a casual sea lover’s get-together, but it's essential in yacht design. Hull speed is the maximum theoretical speed that a displacement-hulled vessel can move efficiently through water. It's like the speed limit of the sea, except no cops are going to pull you over if you dare to surpass it. But beware, push it too hard, and you'll end up with a vessel that becomes uncomfortably noisy, vibrates a lot, and guzzles fuel like it’s a tequila shooter - not very efficient or luxurious, I dare say.

Mirror, Mirror, Who's the Fastest of Them All?

A well-designed sailing yacht can reach speeds of around 8-10 knots (that's sea miles per hour for you landlubbers), while motor yachts typically cruise around at 15-20 knots. But let me tell you, there are some real speed demons out there that scoff at these numbers! Take the World Is Not Enough, for instance, a beast of a yacht that clocks in at a dizzying 70 knots - that's about 80 mph! To put that in perspective, if it had wheels instead of hulls, it could give some cars a run for their money on the highway - and that's on water!

But before you start assuming that bigger equals faster, let me stop you right there. Size isn't always a plus when it comes to speed in yacht land. In fact, larger yachts often move slower because of their increased size and weight. Take Azzam, the world's largest luxury yacht at an impressive 590 feet. Despite her monstrous size and awe-inspiring twin propellers pumping out a colossal 94,000 horsepower, she maxes out at around 30 knots. Not too shabby for a floating mansion, but it's no World Is Not Enough.

Pushing the Speed Limit: Future Potential for Yacht Speeds

As impressive as these current yacht speeds are, they aren’t the final frontier. Beyond these achievements, a new realm of speed possibilities opens up, thanks to the ever-evolving scientific advancements in yacht design, materials, and propulsion technologies. There are concepts floating around (yacht pun intended) of innovative hull designs that could potentially tackle the sea’s resistance more efficiently, resulting in higher speeds.

A few years back, I attended a yacht showcase in Monaco where an all-electric yacht concept called the X-Prime was revealed. Its designers talked about lightweight materials, electric propulsion, and even hydrofoil support – aiming to significantly reduce water’s drag and push the boundaries of speed. Listening to them, it felt like these yacht designers were more like rocket scientists! So folks, if you think yachting is all about sunny leisurely cruises while sipping champagne, remember there's a whole galaxy of behind-scenes-technology that powers each luxurious trip across the sea.

In the world of yachting, it's not just about how fast you go, but also how you get there. The journey is as integral as the destination itself. Remember, every yacht is a marvel of ingenious engineering, etched in luxury and sophistication. So, next time when you see a yacht gliding across the water, think about the intricacies and craftsmanship under that luxurious exterior. And if you happen to be aboard it, lucky you! Just sit back, feel the wind in your hair, and enjoy the ride. Speed, after all, is relative.

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How Fast Can A Boat Go? 15 Examples of Average, Maximum, and Record Speeds!

Discover the thrilling speeds boats can achieve, from leisurely cruises to record-breaking dashes across the water.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The world record speed for a boat is 275.97 knots (317.58 mph or 511.09 km/h), held by Ken Warby since 1978.
• Boat speeds vary by type, with maximum speeds ranging from 10 mph for houseboats to 114 mph for pontoon boats.
• Safety and stability become concerns at high speeds, with design and engine power being key factors.
• The average speed of a boat is often its most efficient and safe operating speed.
• For recreational boating, speeds around 30 knots are considered fast but safe for certain boat types.

What is the maximum speed of a boat?

This question intrigues many in the marine industry. The fastest boat, according to the Guinness Book of Records, reached 275.97 knots (317.58 mph or 511.09 km/h), a record set by Ken Warby of Australia in 1978. Since then, only two official attempts to break this record have been made, both ending in tragedy due to instability at high speeds.

Boating is often associated with leisure, yet for some, speed is the ultimate goal. Boats, like cars and planes, can reach impressive speeds. The speed of a boat depends on its size, type, engine power, and design.

For example, cargo ships can travel at 24 knots (44 km/h) , while the fastest passenger catamaran recorded a speed of 58.2 knots. A typical pontoon can reach 36 knots (41 mph or 65 km/h), but the world’s fastest pontoon boat hit 99 knots (114 mph), powered by three Mercury Pro Max 300x engines.

Maximum Boat Speed For Typical Boat Types

How do you calculate the average speed of a boat .

Calculating the average speed of a boat involves understanding its typical operational speed range, rather than aiming for maximum records. Boats are designed with optimal speed considerations, balancing the thrill of speed with safety. The average speed, such as 22 mph for pontoons, reflects a boat’s usual operational pace.

To determine this average speed, several methods can be employed:

• Crouch’s Planning Speed Formula : This approach provides insights into hull speed, which is the maximum speed before the boat’s movement becomes inefficient due to wave resistance. It’s a theoretical limit, not an absolute cap, indicating when additional power results in diminishing speed returns.
• GPS Measurement : A straightforward and accurate method, using GPS to track and calculate the boat’s speed over time.
• Doppler Effect (Doppler Shift) and Correlation Velocity Log : These technologies measure the boat’s speed by analyzing changes in frequency or motion relative to water, offering a precise average speed calculation.

The average speed is essentially the mean of the boat’s most common operational speeds. For instance, if a boat frequently cruises between 18 and 24 mph, its average speed is calculated as (18+24)/2 = 21 mph. This figure represents a practical speed that balances performance with safety and efficiency.

Is 30 Knots Fast For A Boat?

Yes, 30 knots is considered fast for many types of boats, offering a thrilling experience while maintaining safety and efficiency under the right conditions.

Speed is a relative concept in boating, with 30 knots (approximately 34.5 mph or 55.5 km/h) representing a significant pace on the water. This speed is achievable and can be sustained safely by boats designed for swift movement, such as deck boats, pontoons, center console boats, and runabouts. These vessels can maintain 30 knots without compromising their stability or operational efficiency, making it an ideal speed for those seeking excitement on the water.

Conversely, for certain types of boats like tugboats, dinghies, trawlers, sailboats, and ski boats, 30 knots exceeds the recommended speed, posing safety risks and becoming economically inefficient due to increased fuel consumption. For larger vessels such as yachts and ferries, while 30 knots is within a safe operating speed, the fuel costs associated with maintaining this speed make it an impractical choice for regular operation.

What Happens If The Speed Is Too High?

For those who enjoy the pleasures of boating, it’s well-known that boats may feel unstable at rest. Typically boats gain stability as they pick up speed. However, this stability can be compromised when speeds become excessively high.

At rest, a boat’s stability is influenced by various factors, including its displacement mass, the free surface effect, metacentric height , and the conditions of the sea. These factors contribute to the boat’s ability to remain upright and balanced in water.

As a boat accelerates, its hydrostatic and hydrodynamic characteristics evolve, altering the center of buoyancy, underwater volume, and pressure distribution. Initially, as speed increases, so does the boat’s restoring force, which helps maintain stability. Yet, there’s a threshold beyond which further acceleration leads to a decrease in this restoring force, making the boat increasingly unstable.

This instability is exacerbated by changes in the boat’s damping coefficients, both linear and nonlinear, which play critical roles in how a boat responds to rolling motions. As speed continues to rise, these changes can significantly impair the vessel’s stability, posing safety risks.

In summary, while moderate speeds can enhance a boat’s stability, pushing beyond certain limits introduces a risk of instability. Understanding and respecting these limits is crucial for safe boating practices.

How Fast Will A 200 HP Pontoon Go?

Pontoons, often associated with leisurely water activities, can surprisingly accommodate a range of water sports, from wakeboarding and tubing to water skiing. A 26-foot pontoon equipped with a 200 horsepower (HP) engine can achieve speeds up to 40 mph, demonstrating its capability beyond just leisure cruising. Even when loaded to capacity, such a pontoon can maintain a respectable speed of 30 mph, fitting well within the ideal speed range of 15 to 35 mph for various water sports.

While it may not be the fastest option on the water, a pontoon with this power level is more than adequate for engaging in your favorite water-based activities. It’s important to note, however, that the boat’s speed can be influenced by its load. Research indicates that for every additional 1000 pounds, the speed of a pontoon can decrease by approximately 12-15%.

For those considering an upgrade for more speed, remember that simply increasing the engine’s horsepower isn’t the only factor. According to a general guideline, doubling the boat’s speed may require quadrupling its power, although this is more of an estimation than a precise formula.

Enhancing a pontoon’s speed can also involve structural modifications, such as adding an extra pontoon to create a tritoon. This adjustment can improve the boat’s stability and potentially its speed, offering a practical approach to achieving a faster, more enjoyable ride on the water.

Boat speeds vary widely across different types, with the thrill of speed balanced against the need for safety and stability. Whether cruising leisurely or pushing the limits, understanding a boat’s capabilities and limits is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience on the water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a boat go 100 mph.

It has been recorded that most modern-day speed boats can travel at speeds of 100 mph with some speed boats even recording speeds of more than 170 mph.

How Far Can You Travel On A Yacht?

Usually, a motorized yacht that is 35 feet in length can travel around 200 miles at a speed of 25 knots in an 8-hour day. If you increase the speed to 35 knots, they can travel close to 300 miles in a day. If you have enough fuel and fill up enough, you can go for thousands of miles. 

Are Speed Boats Expensive?

As they are some of the fastest water vehicles on the planet, speedboats will cost a lot of money if you are looking at some of the fastest ones available.

About the author

I worked as an officer in the deck department on various types of vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and even reefer and TSHD in the early years. Currently employed as Marine Surveyor carrying cargo, draft, bunker, and warranty survey.

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Yacht Speeds: How Fast Do Yachts Go in Knots?

Have you ever wondered how fast yachts can go in knots? Yacht speeds vary depending on several factors, including the size of the yacht, engine power, hull design, sails, and weather conditions. Let’s dive into the world of yacht speeds and discover just how fast these magnificent vessels can go.

Key Takeaways:

• Yachts can reach speeds from 4-6 knots on average, with a top speed of 7 knots.
• Larger racing yachts can easily reach speeds up to 15 knots, while the fastest yachts can exceed 50 knots.
• The hull type, boat length, wind conditions, and current all play a significant role in determining a yacht’s speed.
• Calculating yacht speed involves dividing the distance by the time, while hull speed is calculated using a specific formula.
• Displacement hulls have a maximum hull speed, while planing hulls can exceed it under certain conditions.

Factors Affecting Yacht Speed

The speed of a yacht is influenced by various factors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key factors that can affect the speed of a yacht.

Hull Type and Speed

The hull design plays a significant role in determining the speed of a yacht. Displacement hulls, which are commonly found in sailboats, are designed to move through the water at slower speeds. On the other hand, planing hulls are designed to rise out of the water, allowing the yacht to reach higher speeds.

Boat Length and Speed

The length of a yacht can also impact its speed. Generally, longer boats tend to be faster because they have a larger waterline length, which reduces drag and allows the yacht to glide through the water more efficiently.

Wind Conditions and Speed

Wind conditions, including wind direction and speed, can greatly affect the speed of a yacht. A strong headwind can slow down a yacht, while a following wind can provide a boost in speed. Sailboats, in particular, rely on wind power to propel them forward.

Current and Speed

The presence of a favorable current can have a significant impact on a yacht’s speed. A strong current flowing in the same direction as the yacht can increase its speed, while a contrary current can slow it down. Yacht captains often take current conditions into account when planning their routes.

To illustrate the impact of these factors on yacht speed, consider the following table:

This table demonstrates how different combinations of hull type, boat length, wind conditions, and current can impact the speed of a yacht. By considering these factors, yacht enthusiasts can make informed decisions to optimize their sailing experience.

Calculating Yacht Speed and Hull Speed

When venturing out on a yacht, it’s essential to understand how to calculate the speed at which your vessel can travel. Yacht speed can be determined by considering the distance to be covered and the available time. To calculate the average speed, simply divide the distance by the time taken. For example, if you cover a distance of 100 nautical miles in 10 hours, the average speed would be 10 knots.

Yacht Speed Formula: Speed (in knots) = Distance / Time

To convert knots to other speed units, such as miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h), you can use the conversion ratio of 1 knot = 1.15 mph = 1.85 km/h. This will help you determine your yacht’s speed in units that are more familiar.

On the other hand, hull speed refers to the maximum efficient speed that a displacement hull can achieve. It is determined primarily by the length of the boat’s waterline. To calculate hull speed, use the formula √(waterline length) * 1.34. For example, if the waterline length of your yacht is 40 feet, the hull speed would be approximately 8.92 knots.

Hull Speed Formula: Hull Speed (in knots) = √(Waterline Length) * 1.34

Understanding your yacht’s calculated speed and hull speed provides valuable information for planning your voyage and ensuring a safe and efficient journey on the water.

Exceeding Hull Speed

A crucial factor in understanding yacht speed is the concept of hull speed. Displacement hulls, commonly found in sailboats, have a maximum efficient speed known as the hull speed. This speed represents the theoretical limit at which a displacement hull can travel efficiently through the water. Exceeding the hull speed requires more energy and is generally not recommended.

However, planing hulls, often used in racing sailboats, have the ability to exceed the hull speed under certain conditions. Planing hulls are designed to lift the boat out of the water as it gains speed, reducing resistance and allowing for greater speeds. With the right combination of surfing conditions, such as sailing downwind with a favorable current, planing hulls can achieve speeds that surpass the hull speed of displacement hulls.

It’s important to note that the increase in speed when exceeding the hull speed is typically minimal. The performance advantage of planing hulls is most noticeable in racing scenarios, where every fraction of a knot can make a significant difference in the outcome. For recreational sailors and cruising yachts, the ability to exceed hull speed may not have a substantial impact on the overall sailing experience.

Distance Covered by Yachts

Sailboats may not travel at high speeds, but they can cover significant distances due to their ability to sail 24/7. Despite their conservative cruising speeds , sailboats have the advantage of continuous propulsion through wind power. This enables them to navigate long distances over time without the need for constant refueling. When it comes to the distance covered by yachts , it is important to consider different factors such as sea conditions, wind patterns, and the size and type of the vessel.

On average, a sailboat covers approximately 100 nautical miles (NM) at a speed of 4.5 knots. This equates to approximately 115 miles or 185 kilometers. While this might seem relatively modest, it is important to remember that this is the distance covered in a day. Fast sailboats, under ideal conditions, can cover over 200 miles per day.

However, it’s worth noting that distances exceeding 180 NM are uncommon, as it requires consistent favorable wind conditions and optimal sailing routes. Sailors typically adopt a conservative approach to planning their daily distances, considering factors such as crew fatigue, weather updates, and safety precautions.

In order to further illustrate the distances covered by sailboats, let’s take a look at the following table:

This table provides a general overview of the daily distances covered by different types of sailboats. While it showcases the average distances, it’s important to remember that actual distances covered may vary based on various factors such as weather conditions, crew experience, and sailing routes.

Though sailboats may not reach the speeds achieved by motor-powered yachts, their ability to cover substantial distances makes them an attractive choice for cruising enthusiasts who prefer a slower-paced, leisurely approach to exploring the open waters.

Yacht Speed Under Power and Racing Sailboats

When it comes to yacht speed under power , most yachts maintain an average speed of 4-5 knots. Sailors typically switch to the engine when their speed drops below 6 knots. This ensures a steady and controlled propulsion, especially in calm or adverse wind conditions.

However, racing sailboats are a different story. Equipped with powerful engines and designed for speed, these sailboats can reach impressive speeds on the water. Particularly, sailboats with planing hulls have the ability to unleash their full potential and achieve speeds between 30-50 knots.

One notable example of record-breaking yacht speeds is the famous sailor Paul Larsen, who set a new world record in 2012. Sailing the Vestas SailRocket 2, Larsen achieved an astonishing 65.45 knots (approximately 75 mph or 121 km/h).

The speed of a racing sailboat depends on several factors. The design of the hull plays a crucial role in minimizing drag and maximizing performance. The engine power also contributes significantly to the overall speed potential. Lastly, the skill of the crew, including their ability to trim the sails and navigate the course efficiently, greatly influences the speed achieved by racing sailboats.

Comparison of Yacht Speeds under Power and Racing Sailboat Speeds

As we can see, the speeds achieved by racing sailboats far surpass the average yacht speed under power . Their planing hulls and optimized design allow them to skim the water’s surface, resulting in exhilarating performances.

In conclusion, the speed of a yacht can vary greatly depending on several key factors. The size of the yacht, engine power, hull design, wind conditions, and current all play a significant role in determining how fast a yacht can travel. Yachts have a wide speed range, with speeds typically ranging from 5 to 30 knots.

The average cruising speed for yachts is around 20 knots, providing a comfortable and efficient speed for most voyages. However, larger and more powerful yachts can exceed 50 knots, offering a thrilling and exhilarating experience on the open sea. The speed at which a yacht travels greatly enhances the sense of freedom and adventure that comes with sailing.

When considering yacht speed, it’s important to understand that various factors can affect it. The size and power of the engine, as well as the design of the hull, can significantly impact a yacht’s performance. Additionally, wind conditions and the presence of a favorable current can either enhance or hinder a yacht’s speed. By taking these factors into account, sailors can optimize their journey and enjoy a smooth and swift sailing experience.

How fast do yachts go in knots?

Yachts can reach various speeds depending on their size, engine power, hull design, sails, and weather conditions. The average speed of a sailboat is around 4-6 knots, with a top speed of 7 knots. Larger racing yachts can easily reach speeds up to 15 knots, while the fastest yachts can exceed 50 knots.

What factors affect yacht speed?

The speed of a yacht is influenced by various factors, including hull type, boat length, wind conditions, and current. The type of hull plays a significant role, with displacement hulls being slower than planing hulls. Longer boats tend to be faster, and wind conditions and current can either enhance or hinder a yacht’s speed.

How can yacht speed be calculated?

Yacht speed can be calculated based on the distance to be covered and the time available. The formula is distance divided by time, which gives the average speed necessary. Knots, the common speed measurement for yachts, can be converted to mph or km/h using the appropriate conversion ratio. Hull speed, the maximum efficient speed of a displacement hull, can be calculated using the formula √(waterline length) * 1.34.

What happens when a yacht exceeds hull speed?

Displacement hulls have a maximum hull speed, which represents the theoretical limit of efficient speed. Exceeding this speed requires more energy and is not recommended. However, planing hulls, commonly found in racing sailboats, can exceed hull speed under the right conditions. The increase in speed when exceeding hull speed is generally minimal.

How far can yachts travel in a day?

Sailboats may not travel at high speeds, but they can cover significant distances due to their ability to sail 24/7. The average sailboat covers approximately 100 nautical miles (NM) at a speed of 4.5 knots. This translates to around 115 miles or 185 km. Fast sailboats in ideal conditions can cover over 200 miles per day, but distances exceeding 180 NM are uncommon.

What is the speed range for yachts?

Yachts typically travel at a speed of 4-5 knots under power, with most sailors switching to the engine at speeds below 6 knots. Racing sailboats, especially those with planing hulls, can reach speeds between 30-50 knots. The fastest recorded yacht speed is 65.45 knots. The design of the hull, engine power, and skill of the crew contribute to the speed achieved by racing sailboats.

What is the conclusion about yacht speeds?

Yachts can reach a wide range of speeds, from 5 to 30 knots, depending on various factors. The size of the yacht, engine power, hull design, wind conditions, and current all influence the speed achieved. While the average cruising speed is around 20 knots, larger and more powerful yachts can exceed 50 knots. Ultimately, the speed at which a yacht travels allows for a unique and enjoyable experience on the open sea.

Source Links

• https://improvesailing.com/questions/average-sailboat-speed
• https://www.boatingworld.com/question-answer/what-is-the-speed-of-yachts-in-knots/
• https://www.frontrower.com/hull-speed-chart.html

Nicholas Finn

I've been the captain of a fishing boat for over 20 years, and I created Pirateering to share my knowledge of and interest in seafaring.

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What is the Average Speed of a Sailboat?

When I try to figure out the duration of whatever sailing trip I have in the making, I always need to know this one thing first: the average speed of a sailboat - especially with long journeys. If you have the same problem, this article is for you.

So what's the average speed of a sailboat? Most sailboats cruise at a speed of 4-6 knots (4.5-7 mph), with a top speed of 7 knots (8 mph or 13 km/h). Larger racing yachts can easily reach speeds up to 15 knots (17 mph or 28 km/h), with an average cruising speed between 6-8 knots (7-9 mph). Cruising speeds of over 8 knots are uncommon.

Different types of sailboats reach very different speeds. Of course, it all depends on wind conditions, current, and many other factors. Did you know that the speed of a boat is directly related to its length? The larger the boat, the faster it goes. I'll explain it to you later on, but first, more on average speed.

On this page:

Factors that determine speed, converting and calculating sailing speed, calculating the hull speed of your own boat, exceeding hull speed, amount of nautical miles, related questions.

So let's get a little more into detail on sailboat speed. The most important factor in determining the speed is the hull type. I have two rules of thumb for you. The first is: the less of the boat is under water, the faster it goes.

Here are the average cruising speeds for different hull types:

• Monohull - 6-8 knots
• Catamaran and trimarans - 9-10 knots
• Fastest monohull (world record circumnavigation) - 15.43 knots
• Fastest trimaran (world record circumnavigation) - 27 knots

Monohull - Your average sailboat is a monohull. Nearly all monohulls are displacement hulls. A displacement hull is under water, pushing the water away. This allows the boat to cut through the water more smoothly; this stabilizes the boat. If you want to make it go faster, you would have to raise the entire hull above the water. Later on I'll show you how to calculate the maximum hull speed of your boat.

Catamarans and Trimarans - These are planing hulls, meaning they are on top of the water. They displace less water, which is why they are faster. But a planing hull is less stable than a displacement hull. To compensate, catamarans and trimarans have two or three hulls, which makes them extremely buoyant. Since this is not your average sailboat I'll leave them out of this article.

The second factor is the length of the boat. It's the second rule of thumb: the longer the boat, the faster it goes. Each sailboat has a maximum hull speed, which it can't exceed (in theory). The hull speed is determined by the length of the boat.

Here are the maximum hull speeds for different monohull lengths:

Please note: the maximum hull speed isn't the average sailing speed. It's the upper limit (in theory - read on to learn more).

The third and perhaps most obvious factor of course is wind direction and speed. If you plan a large voyage, for example, an ocean passage, make sure to check the dominant wind and direction for your time of year. You want to make sure to have as much downwind as you can get, and a favorable current as well. This is why most sailors choose to go eastward instead of westward when sailing the world.

If you want to know why going eastward is smart, I encourage you to read my previous article on sailing around the world here .

How to calculate necessary sailing speed

So imagine you need to get to dock in time. It's 50 miles away. You need to arrive at 2100 hours. It's currently 1500 hours. Would be handy to know at what speed you need to sail to make it in time.

The formula is simple:

nautical miles / time = average speed necessary

2100 - 1500 = 360 minutes 360 / 60 = 6 hours Your average speed should be: 50 NM / 6 = 8.3 knots

Converting knots to mph and km/h

To convert knots to mph or km/h, simply multiply the knots by the ratio below.

1 knot = 1.151 mph 1 knot = 1.852 km/h

Great, we have a good general idea of what to expect from our trustworthy vessels. If you want to go deeper, you can try to calculate the maximum hull speed of your own boat. Calculating the maximum speed is actually very simple. Now is the time to get out your calculator.

You calculate the maximum hull speed (HS) by taking the length in feet (lwl), get the square root, and multiplying it by 1.34.

HS = √ lwl * 1.34 HS = Hull Speed lwl = length at waterline

So a 80 feet boat has a maximum hull speed of:

√ 80 * 1.34 = 12 knots

A displacement hull has a maximum hull speed. Hull speed is a theoretical speed that tells us what the maximum efficient speed is. Everything above that speed costs a lot more energy. If you power your boat by engine, you can exceed the speed by pushing the hull over your own bow wave (this requires a lot of horsepowers though, and it isn't good for your engine).

If you're sailing instead, you can exceed your hull speed with the help of the weather. Let's call these surfing conditions (sounds good). This might happen to you when you're sailing downwind and the current pushes you forward simultaneously. This helps you to overtake your own bow wave. If this happens, the wavelength gets longer than the hull length: the water can't get out of the way fast enough. As a result, the boat starts to plane, increasing water resistance at the front. Congratulations: you're surfing on your own bow wave.

The increase in speed won't be mind blowing however (about 1 knot). The truth is: a displacement hull is bound to its speed. It just costs to much energy to propel it through the water. It's made to cut, not steamroll the water.

Sailboats don't travel lightning fast, but they do travel 24/7. Because of this, they can cover quite a bit of distance. What distance are we actually able to cover with conservative speeds?

The average sailboat covers a distance of roughly 100 nautical miles (NM) , at a speed of around 4.5 knots. This equals 115 miles or 185 km.

1 NM is 1.852 km or 1.151 mile

You can calculate the distance per day by simply multiplying the speed in knots by 24 hours:

NM = knots * 24

Most sailboats cover anywhere between 100-180 NM per day. This means that a fast sailboat in ideal conditions can cover more than 200 miles. Impressive. However, anything over 180 NM is uncommon. We usually only see cruising speeds that high in races.

Here are the distances per day (NM) for different cruising speeds:

How fast can a sailboat go under power? The average speed of a sailboat under power is 4-5 knots (5 mph or 8 km/h). Most sailors switch to engine at sailing speeds below 6 knots, especially when on passage.

How fast do racing sailboats go? Racing sailboats can reach speeds of 30 - 50 knots (35-58 mph or 55-92 km/h). The record is set at 65.45 knots (75 mph or 121 km/h). They can beat wind speed because they have a planing hull instead of a displacement hull, making them a lot faster than average sailboats

Can a sailboat sail faster than the wind? Sailboats with a planing hull (multihulls) can go faster than wind. Displacement hulls (the average sailboat) can't beat the wind, or just slightly in surfing conditions.

Robert Tangney Kenmare Ireland

Just wondering if you could do a similar article on diesel powered boats.I have a Seaward 23 powered with two 1.6 mermaid engines.I normally do around 7_8 knots and was thinking of replacing them for more speed around 10_12 knots.what engines would I need. According to what I have read already I should be getting 10 knots cruising speed with a top speed of 12 knots.This is not the case and her bottom is very clean.Found your article very interesting.

Shawn Buckles

Hi Robert, thanks for your comment. You have quite a bit of power there, nice.

I wouldn’t know for sure what engine size you should get, this article is specifically about sailboats. Also, this is the maximum hull speed - what you could expect under ideal conditions. And that’s never the case - you have to deal with current, wind, and so on. So I’d say it sounds about right.

If by diesel-powered boats you mean a powerboat, I currently don’t write about powerboats. Maybe I will in the future, but I won’t make any promises for now.

Thanks again and good luck with your upgrade!

I’m not sure if you use a different way of calculating time in nautical terms (Not a sailor myself, just curious about sailboats), but in the ‘How to calculate necessary sailing speed’ my math would say there’s 6 hours = 360 minutes from 1500 hours (3 PM) to 2100 hours (9 PM), not 600 minutes = 10 hours. Am I missing something?

Hi Ben L, That’s exactly right, it was a math error on my part. Thanks for pointing it out, I have updated the article.

Catamarans and trimarans are PLANING boats?! How long have you been sailing? Three days? :-)))

Matas Pacevicius

Just wanted to point out a typo. At hull speed of 5NM you travel 120NM and 138miles (not the 115 written) per 24hrs. Thank you for your articles. I’ve been dreaming of circumnavigation for years and am in the process of designing and building my own sailboat for the feat. I would love to build and sail a sailboat on which I could live almost anywhere in the world. I currently reside on the Gulf coast of Florida and am surrounded by beautiful warm waters that beckon me to explore them. Hopefully in the followings 5 years I will be sailing into the Caribbean in my self-built traveling home in the water. I wish to call the oceans home and soon the entire world. I plan to cross the Atlantic from the Caribbean on my first leg around the world. Would you recommend sailing throughout the Mediterranean? Any ideas on how’s to make money along the way?

I’ve worked all my life, struggling. Now 56y.o. staring at becoming a jobless wanderer in the next couple of months, maybe pick up a used boat. I am just really curious how some people have the time and place to design, build, and then sail around. Tell me your secrets…

Benjamin Lindner

Hello Shawn;

You have an error in your table above: 5 Knots = 120 NM BUT DOES NOT EQUAL 115 MILES.

Thank you Ben

Carlos Alberto Molinelli

But WHY is it a maximum speed for displacement boats in quiet waters, responding to this old formula? It is because the speed increases, the water displaced forms waves. At slow speed there are several along the hull. At fast speed there are only two: one at the bow and another an the stern. If the boat tries to go faster, the stern wave would go more farther but the hull would lose sustentation. It better explained with a picture. Look for boats going fast. You will see only two waves.

Robert Flores

Getting close to retirement and want to get a sailboat with some power. Thinking about sailing lakes and coastal. Looking at the macgregor 26M and seaward 26rk. What recommendations do you have ?? Or things to think about. I am one for safety. Best regards Robert

Ronald Ernst van Dijk

Thank you. Very well explained in clear language, including the usual conversions between knots, miles and kilometers. It helps understanding the physics of sailboats and what to expect in terms of speed. I have just completed building an 18 feet wooden gaff rigged yawl (design by François Vivier) for single handed coastal sailing in Malaysia, the country where I live. Your “rule of thumb” about HS = Lwl * 1.34 seems to work well, although I have to further try it out with different wind speeds and sailing on a reach or down wind.

Your website is an ad horror show to the point it is not usable any more. Ads do have their place and purpose, just like food needs salt. But in your case there is more salt then there is food. Moderation is key.

Ara Houston

Hello improvesailing.com owner, You always provide helpful information.

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How Fast Do Sailboats Go: Factors and Limitations Guide

Imagine the thrill of gliding across the water, propelled solely by the gentle caress of the wind against your sails. Sailboats have long captivated the hearts of adventurers, sailors, and water enthusiasts, offering a unique blend of elegance and excitement. From the graceful sloops to the swift catamarans, sailboats hold a timeless allure, capable of transporting us to distant horizons.

One question that often arises among sailing enthusiasts is, “How fast can a sailboat go?” The answer to this question is as varied as the sea itself, as sailboats come in a wide range of sizes, designs, and configurations. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the fascinating world of sailboat speed, exploring the factors that influence their performance and understanding the dynamics behind their varying capabilities.

Whether you are a seasoned sailor seeking to optimize your vessel’s speed or a curious landlubber eager to explore the wonders of sailboats, this guide will navigate you through the winds of knowledge, helping you set sail on a journey of understanding and appreciation for these magnificent watercraft. So, trim your sails, adjust your course, and let’s embark on this thrilling adventure to uncover the secrets of sailboat speed and performance.

Overview of Sailboat Speed and How It Is Measured

Sailboat speed, like the wind that propels these vessels, is a dynamic and ever-changing aspect of sailing. It refers to the rate at which a sailboat moves through the water, typically measured in knots. One knot is equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, making it the standard unit for measuring the speed of boats and ships.

The speed of a sailboat is influenced by various factors, each playing a crucial role in determining how swiftly the vessel can cut through the waves. Some of the primary factors affecting sailboat speed include:

• Wind Conditions: The most influential factor in sailboat speed is the force and direction of the wind. A strong and favorable wind can propel a sailboat at remarkable speeds, while a lack of wind or unfavorable wind direction may slow its progress.
• Boat Design: The design and shape of the sailboat’s hull, sails, and rigging have a significant impact on its performance. Some sailboat designs are optimized for speed, while others prioritize stability or comfort.
• Sail Configuration: The type and arrangement of sails on the boat, as well as their trim and tension, play a crucial role in maximizing sailboat speed. Properly adjusted sails can harness the wind efficiently, propelling the boat forward with minimal resistance.
• Water Conditions: The state of the water, including wave height and current, can affect sailboat speed. Calm waters and favorable currents can aid in achieving higher speeds, while rough seas may slow the boat down.
• Weight and Load: The weight carried by the sailboat, including crew, gear, and supplies, can influence its speed. Overloading the boat may lead to decreased performance and slower speeds.
• Skipper’s Skill: The skill and experience of the boat’s skipper (the person steering and operating the sailboat) can also impact its speed. An experienced sailor can make strategic decisions and adjustments to optimize speed and performance.

It’s important to note that sailboat speed can vary widely based on these factors, and no two sailing experiences are ever the same. Sailors must adapt to the ever-changing conditions of wind and water, skillfully harnessing the forces of nature to navigate the seas and achieve their desired speed and destination.

How Hull Design and Sail Plan Influence a Sailboat’s Speed

Hull design and sail plan are fundamental factors that significantly influence a sailboat’s speed and overall performance on the water.

• Hull Design: The shape, length, and weight distribution of a sailboat’s hull play a critical role in its speed capabilities. Generally, sailboats with sleek and narrow hulls tend to be faster as they offer less resistance to the water. This design allows the boat to glide smoothly through the water, reducing drag and increasing speed. Longer hulls, commonly found in racing sailboats, have a higher speed potential due to their increased waterline length. The weight distribution within the hull is also crucial; sailboats with a balanced and well-trimmed hull can achieve better speed and stability.
• Sail Plan: The sail plan encompasses the size, type, and arrangement of sails on a sailboat. The sail plan directly impacts the boat’s ability to harness the power of the wind efficiently. Larger sails generally offer more power, allowing the boat to reach higher speeds. However, larger sails may also create more heeling (tilting) force, which could affect stability. Sailboats with multiple sails, such as sloops, cutters, or ketches, can be adjusted to suit various wind conditions, offering flexibility in speed and maneuverability.

The trim and shape of the sails also affect a sailboat’s speed. Properly trimmed sails that catch the wind optimally can propel the boat forward with maximum efficiency. The angle and tension of the sails are critical in maintaining an efficient sail shape that provides both lift and thrust.

Sailboat designers carefully consider hull shape and sail plan to create vessels that are well-balanced, efficient, and capable of achieving high speeds. Sailboats optimized for speed typically feature sleek hulls and larger, well-trimmed sails, allowing them to glide swiftly through the water while harnessing the power of the wind to its fullest potential. However, it’s important to note that the ideal hull design and sail plan depend on the intended use of the sailboat, as different designs prioritize speed, stability, or other specific characteristics.

Significant Impact of Wind Conditions on Sailboat Speed

Wind conditions are a pivotal factor that directly influences the speed and performance of a sailboat. The strength and direction of the wind play a crucial role in determining how fast a sailboat can travel through the water.

• Wind Strength: The force of the wind is a primary source of power for sailboats. Strong winds generate more force on the sails, propelling the boat forward at higher speeds. Sailboats generally achieve their maximum speeds in moderate to strong winds, where the sails can capture a substantial amount of wind energy. However, extremely strong winds can create challenges and may require reducing sail area to maintain control and prevent overpowering the boat.
• Wind Direction: The direction from which the wind is blowing also affects a sailboat’s speed. Sailboats can generally sail at higher speeds when the wind is blowing directly behind them (downwind). This configuration allows the sails to capture a maximum amount of wind energy without causing excessive heeling or slowing the boat. On the other hand, when sailing upwind (against the wind), sailboats typically have reduced speed due to the increased resistance from the wind direction.
• Apparent Wind: Apparent wind is a crucial concept in sailboat speed. It is the combination of the true wind’s direction and speed and the wind generated by the boat’s own motion. When a sailboat is moving forward, it creates its apparent wind, which is stronger and slightly different in direction than the true wind. The apparent wind effectively increases the relative wind speed experienced by the sails, enhancing the boat’s speed. Sailboats are designed to efficiently use apparent wind to maintain higher speeds, even when sailing upwind.

Sailboat captains and crew constantly monitor wind conditions to optimize their sail plan and sail trim. Adjusting the sails and the boat’s heading based on the wind conditions allows sailors to achieve the most efficient angle to the wind, maximizing speed while maintaining stability.

In summary, wind conditions are a critical factor that can significantly impact a sailboat’s speed. Sailors must skillfully harness the power of the wind, adjusting their sail plan and sail trim to achieve the best possible performance and speed while ensuring the safety and stability of the vessel. Understanding the concept of apparent wind and how to utilize it effectively is key to maximizing a sailboat’s speed and overall sailing experience.

Concept of the Point of Sail and Its Influence on Sailboat Speed

The point of sail is a fundamental concept in sailing that describes the angle at which a sailboat is positioned relative to the wind direction. The point of sail has a significant influence on sailboat speed, as it determines the most efficient angles at which the sails can capture the wind’s energy.

There are three primary points of sail:

• Close-Hauled (Upwind): Close-hauled is the point of sail where the sailboat is sailing as close to the wind’s direction as possible, typically at an angle of approximately 45 degrees or less. In this point of sail, the sails are trimmed in tightly to create a lift force that propels the boat forward, despite the wind coming from the front. While close-hauled, sailboats generally achieve their lowest speeds compared to other points of sail, as they are sailing against the wind, which creates greater resistance.
• Reaching: Reaching is the point of sail where the boat is sailing with the wind coming from the side. There are three types of reaching: close reach, beam reach, and broad reach. Sailboats can achieve higher speeds while reaching because the sails can capture more wind energy from the side. In a broad reach, where the wind is nearly blowing directly from the side, sailboats can attain their maximum speeds as the wind’s force is most effectively utilized.
• Running (Downwind): Running is the point of sail where the boat is sailing with the wind blowing directly from behind. In this point of sail, the sails are eased out to catch the wind and propel the boat forward. Running with the wind allows sailboats to achieve higher speeds, particularly in a broad run, where the wind is at its most favorable angle to create maximum propulsion.

Generally, sailboats achieve their maximum speed while reaching or running with the wind. These points of sail provide the most favorable angles for the sails to efficiently capture wind energy and propel the boat forward with minimal resistance. In contrast, close-hauled, where the boat is sailing upwind, results in lower speeds due to increased resistance and limited sail efficiency.

Sailors use the knowledge of the point of sail to optimize their sail plan and sail trim. Adjusting the sails and the boat’s heading according to the point of sail allows sailors to maintain the most efficient angles to the wind, maximizing speed while ensuring stability and control. Understanding the point of sail is essential for sailboat owners and crew members to achieve their desired speed and enjoy an exhilarating sailing experience on the water.

Different Types of Sailboats and How Their Design Affects Speed

Sailboats come in various types, each designed with specific purposes and characteristics that can influence their speed capabilities. Here are some common sailboat types and how their designs affect speed:

• Racing Sailboats: Racing sailboats are specifically designed for speed and performance. They often feature sleek hull designs, lightweight construction, and high-performance sail plans. Racing sailboats are optimized to harness the wind efficiently and minimize drag, allowing them to achieve higher speeds compared to other types of sailboats. They are commonly used in competitive racing events where speed is a crucial factor.
• Cruising Sailboats: Cruising sailboats prioritize comfort and accommodation for extended trips on the water. While they may not be as focused on raw speed as racing sailboats, modern cruising sailboats are still designed to be relatively fast and efficient. They strike a balance between speed and comfort, allowing sailors to enjoy leisurely cruising while maintaining a respectable pace.
• Dinghies: Dinghies are small, lightweight, and highly maneuverable sailboats. They are often used for recreational sailing, racing, and training purposes. Dinghies can be quite fast due to their lightweight and efficient sail plans, making them popular choices for racing and adventure seekers.
• Keelboats: Keelboats are larger sailboats with a fixed keel, providing stability and preventing them from capsizing. They come in various sizes and designs, ranging from daysailers to ocean-going vessels. Keelboats generally offer good speed capabilities, especially when reaching or running with the wind.
• Multihulls: Multihull sailboats, such as catamarans and trimarans, have multiple hulls instead of a single hull like monohulls. Their design allows for increased stability and reduced drag, resulting in impressive speeds, particularly when running with the wind. Multihulls are known for their fast and exhilarating sailing experiences.

In addition to sailboat type, the class of sailboat can also influence its speed capabilities. Different sailboat classes, such as Optimists, Lasers, J/Boats, or Hobie Cats, have specific design characteristics that cater to various skill levels, purposes, and sailing conditions. Racing classes often have strict rules and regulations to ensure fair competition while maximizing the boats’ speed potential.

Overall, the design of a sailboat plays a crucial role in determining its speed capabilities. Racing sailboats, designed for high performance, can achieve remarkable speeds, while cruising sailboats prioritize comfort and versatility without compromising on speed. The sailboat type and class chosen by a sailor depend on their preferences, intended use, and the thrill they seek while sailing the open waters.

How Sailboat Size and Crew Skill Impact Speed

Sailboat size and crew skill are two important factors that can significantly impact a sailboat’s speed and overall performance:

Sailboat Size: 

The size of a sailboat plays a crucial role in determining its potential for speed. Generally, larger sailboats have the potential to achieve higher speeds due to their increased waterline length and sail area. A longer waterline allows the boat to glide more smoothly through the water, reducing drag and increasing speed. Additionally, larger sailboats typically have more powerful sail plans, which can harness more wind energy and propel the boat forward.

However, larger sailboats also present some challenges. They can be more challenging to maneuver, especially in confined spaces or tight quarters, and require more experienced and skilled crews to handle them efficiently. Inexperienced crews may struggle with sail trim, boat balance, and navigation, which can hinder the boat’s speed and performance.

Crew Skill: 

The skill level of the crew on a sailboat is crucial in maximizing its speed and performance. Skilled sailors can optimize sail trim, adjusting the angle and tension of the sails to capture the most wind energy efficiently. Proper sail trim ensures that the sails work together harmoniously, reducing drag and increasing the boat’s speed.

Furthermore, experienced crews understand how to balance the boat, distribute weight properly, and make strategic decisions based on wind conditions and the point of sail. Efficient boat handling and precise maneuvers can lead to better speed and performance, especially during racing or challenging conditions.

While larger sailboats may have a greater potential for speed, the crew’s skill level is equally important in achieving optimal performance. Skilled sailors can make the most of a sailboat’s design and sail plan, pushing its limits and making it sail faster and more efficiently.

In summary, sailboat size and crew skill are critical factors that influence a sailboat’s speed and overall performance. Larger sailboats have the potential for greater speed, but they require experienced crews to handle them effectively. Skilled sailors can optimize sail trim and boat handling, making the most of a sailboat’s capabilities and achieving better speed and performance on the water.

Limitations That May Prevent Sailboats from Achieving Maximum Speeds

Sailboats, like any vessel, have certain limitations that can prevent them from achieving their maximum speeds. These limitations are influenced by various factors and must be taken into consideration for safe and efficient sailing:

• Adverse Weather Conditions: Sailboat speed can be significantly impacted by adverse weather conditions such as strong winds, rough seas, and stormy weather. While some sailboats are designed to handle higher wind speeds and challenging conditions, extreme weather can pose safety risks. Sailors must exercise caution and reduce sail area or change course to maintain control and prevent damage to the boat and rigging.
• Hull Resistance: Hull resistance is the force that opposes the motion of the sailboat through the water. As a sailboat increases in speed, the resistance against the hull also increases. At a certain point, the resistance becomes a limiting factor, and the boat cannot achieve higher speeds without significantly more power or sail area. This is known as the hull’s theoretical hull speed, which is determined by the boat’s length at the waterline.
• Physical Limitations: Sailboats have physical limitations based on their design and construction. Smaller sailboats, such as dinghies or day sailors, may have speed limitations due to their size and sail plan. They are typically not designed for high speeds and may struggle to reach the same velocities as larger racing sailboats or performance-oriented designs.
• Crew and Equipment Limitations: The crew’s physical abilities and experience can also impact a sailboat’s speed. Inexperienced crews may not be able to optimize sail trim or handle the boat as efficiently, limiting its performance. Additionally, overloaded boats or poor weight distribution can affect speed and stability.
• Safety Considerations: In all sailing endeavors, safety considerations take precedence over speed. Sailors must prioritize the well-being of the crew and the boat. During adverse weather or challenging conditions, the focus shifts to maintaining control, avoiding hazards, and ensuring the safety of everyone on board. In some situations, reducing sail area or altering the course may be necessary to ensure a safe voyage.

In conclusion, sailboats have certain limitations that can impact their speed, including adverse weather conditions, hull resistance, and physical limitations of the boat and crew. These limitations must be respected to ensure safe and enjoyable sailing experiences. While achieving high speeds can be exhilarating, safety considerations always come first in responsible sailing practices. Sailors must be mindful of these limitations and make informed decisions to ensure the well-being of the boat and everyone on board.

Watch How fast can a foiling sailboat actually go? | Video

Top 5 FAQs and answers related to How Fast Do Sailboats Go

How fast can sailboats go .

Sailboat speeds can vary widely depending on several factors such as wind conditions, hull design, sail plan, and boat size. On average, cruising sailboats can typically reach speeds between 5 to 8 knots (approximately 6 to 9 mph), while racing sailboats or performance-oriented designs can achieve speeds between 8 to 20 knots (approximately 9 to 23 mph).

What is the fastest recorded speed of a sailboat? 

The fastest recorded speed of a sailboat is held by “Vestas Sailrocket 2,” which achieved a speed of 65.45 knots (75.30 mph) over a 500-meter course in 2012. However, this record-breaking speed is accomplished by specialized sailboats designed for outright speed rather than typical cruising or racing sailboats.

How does wind speed impact sailboat speed? 

Wind speed is a crucial factor in determining sailboat speed. Sailboats depend on the wind to generate propulsion, and as the wind speed increases, so does the boat’s potential speed. However, sailboats have certain limitations, and excessively strong winds can also become a safety concern, leading sailors to reef sails or change course to manage boat speed.

Do all sailboats reach the same speeds? 

No, sailboat speeds can vary significantly based on their design, size, and purpose. Racing sailboats are typically designed for higher performance and can achieve faster speeds compared to cruising sailboats, which prioritize comfort and stability over outright speed. Multihulls, such as catamarans, are known for their speed, while keelboats or monohulls can have different speed capabilities depending on their hull design and sail plan.

Can sailboats go faster than the wind? 

Yes, sailboats can go faster than the true wind speed through the concept of “apparent wind.” When a sailboat sails at an angle to the true wind direction, it generates its own apparent wind due to its forward motion. This apparent wind is stronger than the true wind, enabling the sailboat to achieve higher speeds than the wind alone would allow when sailing at certain angles, especially on a reach or downwind course.

In conclusion, sailboat speed is a fascinating aspect of sailing, influenced by various factors that come together to determine how fast a sailboat can go. Throughout this guide, we’ve explored the significance of hull design, sail plan, wind conditions, point of sail, boat type, crew skill, and size in influencing sailboat speed. Sailboats can achieve different speeds depending on whether they are designed for cruising or racing, and skilled sailors can optimize performance through proper sail trim and handling.

It’s crucial to recognize that sailboat speed is not solely about achieving maximum velocity but also understanding the balance between performance and safety. Adverse weather conditions, hull resistance, and physical limitations can all impact sailboat speed and necessitate responsible boating practices. As sailors, we can appreciate the thrill of sailing and the joy of harnessing the wind while always prioritizing the safety of ourselves, our passengers, and our vessels.

With the knowledge gained from this guide, readers can now better appreciate the dynamics of sailboat speed and understand the factors influencing their boat’s performance. Whether cruising leisurely or racing competitively, sailboat speed offers a captivating experience on the water that continues to mesmerize sailors and enthusiasts worldwide. Embrace the thrill of sailing while being mindful of safety, and may every journey on a sailboat be an exhilarating and memorable one.

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Read  How Long Is a Rod? Measurement Unit Vs. Fishing Rod Length until we meet in the next article.

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How Fast Do Racing Sailboats Go?

When I look at different sailboats, I find myself wondering about their average and maximum speeds. Do you wonder the same thing? If yes, this article is for you.

So, how fast do racing sailboats go? Regular sailboats go at an average speed of 4 to 7 knots (4.5 to 8 mph). Racing sailboats go up to 15 to 20 knots (17 to 23 mph). Some boats, like Paul Larsen’s Vestas Sailrocket 2, reached a speed of 65.45 knots (75.32 mph or 121.22 km/h).

These numbers are just for your reference. The exact speed of each sailboat greatly differs, depending on different factors. If you want to look more into this topic, read on!

Why Your Boat’s Speed Matters in Sailing?

1. it gives you an adrenaline rush.

Did you ever experience adrenaline rushing throughout your body as you cross the finish line? Or, the pure satisfaction of a come-from-behind win? Those emotions can’t be beat.

2. Allows You to Use Polar Plots

The speed of a sailboat is not only important because of the obvious reasons (for the adrenaline rush, know how fast you’re going, etc.). Its speed also allows you to use a polar plot.

A polar plot is a diagram that determines the maximum speed a sailboat can travel at a given wind speed and heading (of the boat).

3. Getting to Your Destination on Time

Figuring out how fast your sailboat needs to be is important for planning your trip, so you get to where you’re going right on time or even earlier. Your boat’s speed will determine the distance it can cover in a day.

4. To Win the Race

Well, this one’s a no-brainer. If you want a fool-proof method of boosting your speed, get the fastest sailboats you could possibly buy (more on that later). But speed and having the fastest boat are not the only things that will make you win races. You and your crew also have to be extremely good.

Check out the video below to the speed of Alain Thébault’s record sailing, which reached speeds up to 41.69 knots (48 mph)!

Some Factors That Influence a Sailboat’s Speed

1. hull type.

The hull is the watertight part of a sailboat that skims along or rides almost on top of the water. The hull type of a sailboat is one of the most crucial factors in determining its speed.

Three types of sailboat hulls:

a) Monohull – As the name hints, a monohull is a sailboat with a single hull. It’s valued for its extreme stability that’s virtually impossible to capsize.

The fastest monohull sailboat in the world, the Volvo Ocean 60 (V.O.60), has a maximum speed of 36 knots (around 41.4 mph).

b) Catamaran (or “cat”) – A catamaran sailboat features one hull on each side, both equal in size. It’s faster (compared to a monohull), so you can reach your destination in record time and avoid bad weather.

Depending on the type (sport, cruising, racing, power cruising, and SWATH), catamarans can go as fast as 15 knots (17.26 mph) to 70 knots (80.55 mph).

c) Trimaran (or double-outrigger) – A trimaran sailboat could easily cruise at speeds of 15 knots (17.26 mph) to 18 knots (20.71 mph).

This type of sailboat features three hulls: a narrow main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls (also called floats). Most trimaran sailboats are used as merchant vessels, warships, and recreation or racing boats .

2. Length Size

The waterline is the area of the hull that touches the water surface. It serves as a reference mark for the maximum depth a boat could be submerged when carrying cargo.

In theory, the greater the length of the waterline, the faster the sailboat can sail. This is because it takes longer for the bow and stern waves to form a single wave.

How it works:

As the sailboat moves through the water, it pushes the water out of the way and creates two waves: one at the front part of the hull (bow) and one at the back part of the hull (stern).

These waves will eventually meet and become one wave, which results in the formation of a trough that’s so deep that the sailboat cannot move any faster. It’s at this point that the sailboat has reached its maximum speed or “hull speed.”

However, some boaters believe hull speed is a myth. Length alone doesn’t determine a boat’s maximum speed. Resistance (which depends on the hull’s shape) and power (coming from the sails) also play major roles.

3. Your Skills

Sailboat racing has become increasingly competitive and complicated (due to more advanced equipment).

Sure, you can use the engine to power through adverse environmental situations, but you need to be highly skilled if you want to sail your boat three times faster than the wind. Proper training and experience will do that for you.

4. Technique and Tuning

Technique and tuning play a big role in the speed of your sailboat. Tuning is about preparing your boat to be as easy, efficient, fast, and safe as possible to sail.

Meanwhile, sailing techniques completely vary depending on the way the sailboat is rigged. One of the basic principles a sailing instructor will show you is how to sail with the wind.

This technique is also called “running before the wind” , which brings us to the next part of this article.

Can Sailboats Go Faster than the Wind?

The short answer is yes. This is particularly true for catamaran sailboats, ice boats, and a few monohull sailboats for racing.

Here’s the longer answer:

Sailboats harness two types of wind to do this: apparent wind and true wind.

Have you ever tried riding a motorcycle when there’s no wind?

The wind you feel on your face as you ride your motorcycle is called the apparent wind. As you go faster, the apparent wind becomes stronger.

Under ideal environmental conditions, the apparent wind is stronger than the true wind (the wind that’s not affected by your movement). However, if you’re riding your motorcycle at 12 mph when there’s a gentle breeze at 12 mph behind you, the apparent wind and true wind will cancel one another out.

So, how does this relate to propelling your boat forward, to go faster than the wind?

The sails of your boat “feel” the same wind (apparent wind) you felt when you were riding your motorcycle with no wind whatsoever. It takes advantage of this type of wind to help it go faster.

Remember, the faster your boat sails, the stronger the apparent wind becomes. Thus, the faster your boat sails.

What Are the Fastest Sailboats in the World?

How fast do racing sailboats go? Check out these super fast sailboats, which fly through the water.

1. Vestas Sailrocket 2

Paul Larsen’s Vestas Sailrocket 2 competed in the B-class (150-235 square feet of sail ) in 2012. The team was successful in beating the previous record at a speed of 65.45 knots (75.32 mph).

What’s the secret to their success? By traveling in the direction opposite to the wind.

2. l’Hydroptère

In 2009, the l’Hydroptère broke the sailing speed record by reaching a speed of 52.86 knots (60.83 mph). It was the first hydrofoil-based experimental trimaran to cross an ocean (from LA to Honolulu).

It was designed by the French Alain Thébault and French-based architectural firm VPLP design (Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost). 

3. Banque Populaire V

At 40 meters (approximately 131 feet) long, the Banque Populaire V (Spindrift 2) is considered the biggest racing trimaran sailboat in the world. It holds a lot of records.

For example, it’s the fastest boat to cross the North Atlantic (New York City-Lizard Point) with an average speed of 33.41 knots (38.45 mph).

4. IDEC 3 (formerly the Groupama 3)

The IDEC 3 or Groupama 3 is another sailing trimaran. From 2007 to 2009, it was able to hold the transatlantic record. It was also a Jules Verne Trophy holder (2010). The ten-man crew was able to sail around the world within 48 days at a speed of 18.76 knots (21.59 mph).

On May 2009, it traveled the Trans-Mediterranean at an average speed of 26.04 knots (29.97 mph).

5. GC32 Version 2

The GC32 Version 2 is a hydrofoiling catamaran made of carbon fiber, and it was designed by Dr. Martin Fischer and manufactured by the Dubai-based Premier Composite Technologies (PCT).

This boat is so light that it seems to fly as it accelerates to its maximum speed of 40 knots (46 mph). Compared to America’s Cup catamarans, the GC32 has considerably bigger foils. (The foils are attached to the boat’s hull.

They have a curved or flat wing-like surface that’s intended to provide extra lift to the moving boat).

Conclusion – How Fast Do Racing Sailboats Go ?

So how fast do racing sailboats go? Most sailboats go as fast as 7 knots (8mph). Racing sailboats can easily go 15 to 20 knots (17 to 23 mph). The record holders go much faster such as Paul Larsen’s Vestas Sailrocket 2, which reached a speed of 65.45 knots (75.32 mph or 121.22 km/h).

The speed of sailboats greatly varies. Many factors make up the average speed and top speed. These factors include the materials, design, hull type, length size, environmental conditions, operator skills, and experience, including techniques and tuning.

If you’re new to sailing, it’s a good idea to attend hands-on boating courses offered by various organizations, such as the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), United States Power Squadrons (USPS), United States Sailing Association, and sailing schools in your country. These courses will help teach you how to go faster in a safe manner.

Related reading:

Average Boat Speeds: Sailboat, Pontoon, & Cruiser

Amel Sailboat Review [50, 60, Super Maramu, Kirk]

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• Post category: Maintenance and Boating
• Post author: Drew S.

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Wonder of the Day #956

How Fast Can a Boat Go?

TECHNOLOGY — Transportation

Have You Ever Wondered...

• How fast can a boat go?
• When was the last time a world record was set for the fastest boat?
• Where would you go if you had the world's fastest boat?
• acceleration ,
• composite ,
• speedboat ,
• transportation ,
• world record ,
• Acceleration ,
• Composite ,
• Speedboat ,
• Transportation ,
• World Record

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by levi. levi Wonders , “ how fast can boats go ” Thanks for WONDERing with us, levi!

Have you ever gone for a ride on a boat ? When you think of boating, what comes to mind? Do you think of a leisurely paddle in a kayak or canoe ? Maybe a luxury vacation on a cruise ship or on a river houseboat ? Perhaps a skiing adventure behind a speedboat?

Many boats are known for moving at a leisurely pace. For example, barges aren't known for speed, but they slowly and consistently move large loads of goods from one place to another along the nation's waterways.

Other boats, though, were definitely made for speed. When you think of going fast, you might naturally think of a race car or an airplane, but boats can move, too!

How fast can a boat go? You might be surprised! Currently, the world record for fastest speed by a boat is 317 miles per hour (510 km/h). That's right! Over 300 miles per hour…

That record was set in 1978 by Australian Ken Warby in his speedboat called Spirit of Australia . And that speed was an average speed for a closed course. Warby's maximum speed during his record-setting run was over 350 miles per hour (563 km/h)!

With all of the advances in technology the world has seen over the past 30 years, one might WONDER why the record has stood for so long. Part of the reason is that breaking the record is one of the world's most dangerous pursuits.

Only two official attempts have been made to break the record since 1978. Both attempts ended in boats crashing when they became unstable at speeds approaching 300 miles per hour (483 km/h). Tragically , the drivers of both boats died during these attempts.

The record is still coveted by speedboat racers, though. There are several boats being built and tested today that could one day challenge the record. Unlike gasoline-powered engines that propel most boats you're familiar with, these futuristic speedboats boast jet engines and space-age composite bodies that make incredible speeds a reality.

Wonder What's Next?

If all the fairy tales got mixed up, what stories would they tell? Let’s find out tomorrow in Wonderopolis!

Wow! Today's Wonder of the Day just sped by, didn't it? But the learning can continue if you check out one or more of the following activities with a friend or family member:

• Have you ever seen a speedboat strut its stuff out on the open water? It can be so much fun to watch a fast boat cut a path through the water, leaving huge waves in its wake. For a peek at some cool speedboats, check out the Flickr speedboat photo gallery . Which boats do you think are the coolest? Why?
• Just imagine it…you're at the helm of the world's fastest boat…with nothing but open ocean in front of you. Where would you go? What would you want to see? Grab a friend or family member and get ready to explore the waterways of the world. Find a globe, an atlas or search online for a world map to explore. Can you believe how much of Earth is covered by water? If you wanted to see even a tiny percentage of the waters of the world, you'd need a really fast boat. Would you rather tour the tropical waters near the equator ? Or do the cold seas of the Arctic sound inviting? Explore the waterways of the world through maps. Make a list of the top ten watery locations you'd visit if you could. What is it about those places that interests you?
• Up for a challenge? Calculate the distance you would travel if you were to visit all the places on your “must see" list by boat. If you had a boat that would travel 200 miles per hour (322 km/h), how long would it take you to make your trip? Research the gas mileage you could expect from an average boat engine and try to calculate the fuel cost for your trip, too!

Wonder Sources

• https://www.americascup.com/en/home.html
• https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/28/uberboat-istanbul/
• http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.03/cheating_pr.html

Did you get it?

Wonder words.

• consistently

Many, many different kinds!  Which type of boats are your favorites, Thomas?

We're glad you learned some new things with us, monkey! :)

We agree, Will! It's pretty cool! Thanks for WONDERing with us! :)

Hi, Brett! You're right, some boats can travel extremely fast. We're glad you enjoyed the video for this WONDER. Videos and media images are great ways to WONDER. Thanks for your comment! :)

Wonderopolis

Thanks for sharing, Nathan! The WONDER talked about several types of boats. The record for the fastest boat is speedboat. There are several WONDERS about boats. Just search for boats in the search box at the top of the page. To start, check out Wonder #855: How Do Boats Float? Enjoy! :)

Daniel (Mrs. Liles' class)

Thank you for sharing what you learned from this Wonder, Daniel! We think you've done a great job predicting what the next Wonder will be! :)

andrew and dorian

WONDERful, Andrew and Dorian! We are so glad that you learned something new today from Wonderopolis! Thank you, for WONDERing with us! :-)

You're right-- that sure is fast, Timothy! Thank you for sharing your comment and WONDERing about speedboats with us today! We Wonder if you have ever been on a speedboat before? We would want to wear a seatbelt if we were planning to go 300 miles per hour! :)

Hey there, Cherry! Thank you so much for sharing your comment today with us, we are thrilled that you enjoy our new look! We're over-the-moon with excitement! We are happy that you have a super easy time searching for cool new Wonders! :)

Shamrockwonderer

Isn't it incredible to learn about the speediest boats around, Shamrockwonderer?! Thank you so much sharing your comment about what you learned with us today! The clue for the next Wonder is: "Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day may have you saying, “Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink!”"! :-)

And so are you, Destiny! You are a very kind Wonder Friend and we always enjoy reading your comments and thoughts! Thanks for using your imagination with us, we think you're spectacular and WONDERful! :)

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Question 1 of 3

What boats slowly and consistently move large loads of goods from one place to another along the nation’s waterways?

• a barges Correct!
• b speedboats Not Quite!
• c pontoons Not Quite!
• d bass boats Not Quite!

Question 2 of 3

What is the current world record for fastest speed by a boat?

• a 450 miles per hour Not Quite!
• b 371 miles per hour Not Quite!
• c 317 miles per hour Correct!
• d 225 miles per hour Not Quite!

Question 3 of 3

The engines used in the futuristic speedboats being built and tested today contain an engine you might also find on a what?

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• b jet Correct!
• c truck Not Quite!
• d tractor Not Quite!

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How Fast Can A Boat Go? | Get Answered Now

Last Updated on June 6, 2020 by Amit Abhishek

How fast can a boat go? This is one question everyone has who is anyway related to boats or marine in general. The Guinness Book of Records for the fastest boat is 275.97 knots by Ken Warby in Australia.

When it comes to boating, many think of a leisure sport paddling a kayak, dingy or canoe. While some think of recreational boat party or family time on a pontoon, yacht or a houseboat.

But for a few boating is not something to move at a leisurely pace; rather how fast you can take your boat without accidents. It is for them it matters the most; just how fast can a boat go? especially their own.

When you are asked to think of going fast, people generally think of cars, bikes, airplanes or some times trains. But a boat too can go fast; in fact, the fastest boat record is 275.97 knots or 510km/hr.

The maximum speed of a boat depends on its size, type, engine power ( horsepower ), design consideration and weight.

For example, the maximum speed of cargo ships ( although not a boat ) is 24 knots or 44 km/hr. Similarly, the maximum speed for a typical pontoon is 36 knots or 41 mph i.e 65 km/hr.

Beyond that, they become highly unstable and risky to operate. But the world’s fastest pontoon boat goes as far as 99 knots or 114 mph. It was a 25-foot triple pontoon with three Mercury Pro Max 300x engines.

Although they are not always pushed to their limits. The optimal speed for a pontoon is 22 mph or 19 knots i.e 35 km/hr.

Maximum Boat Speed For Typical Boat Types

How do you calculate the average speed of a boat, is 30 knots fast for a boat, pontoon speed chart, what happens if the speed is too high.

Having the fastest boat doesn’t mean you always go for that 275.97 knots record. In fact, all motorboats are designed with speed as one of the key parameters to meet.

Even that we enjoy to go a bit faster than usual boats go; for the most part, we try to play safe.

Maybe that is why for the most time different boats run at their optimum speed. This sometimes referred to as the average speed for that vessel. For example, the average speed for pontoons is 22 mph.

This can be calculated by following the Crouch’s Planing Speed formula followed by practical observation. The speed formula gives us information about the hull speed.

This is the speed up to which waves generated by boats or ships; does not restrict its movement or simply limit its speed. It is not that the vessel cannot cross that speed limit.

But it is the speed after which boats get less and less forward movement with the power added.

One of the most accurate and well-known methods to calculate boat speed is using GPS. Other method includes using Dopler effect or Doppler shift and correlation velocity log.

For the doppler log or correlation velocity log, the average speed of the vessel is mean of the optimal speed ( the speed at which the vessel operates most of the time ).

For example, even if your boat max cruise speed was 40 mph but for the most time, it operates between 18 to 24 mph. Its average speed will be 21 mph { (18+24)/2 = 21 }.

Going fast in a boat can be great fun especially when you are with your friends or just competing. For average adrenaline-seeking boaters, it is a huge plus as it brings both thrill and enjoyment.

They try to take their boat to their maximum limits; many a time ignoring the stability or safety issues. But some want to play it safe while still love the adrenaline rush that comes with speed.

So, it is obvious to ask whether 30 knots is fast for my boat? Whether it’s still slow, fast or in between; you should know is it still safe and economical for your boat type .

For most boats especially those built for speed; they can easily surpass 30 knots under the right conditions.

For example deck boats, pontoon, center console boats, Runabout Boats can run at 30 knots for a longer period of time without any negative impact on its stability or its efficiency.

On the other hand for boats such as a trawler, tug, dingy, sailboats and ski boats the speed of 30 knots is too fast, unsafe and uneconomical. But boats such as yacht and ferry it’s fast, safe but uneconomical.

So it depends on whether 30 knot is fast for your boat or it’s just average speed. But if you’re talking about average speed for different boats; yes 30 knot is fast enough to give the thrill.

How Fast Will A 200 hp Pontoon Go?

You will be surprised to know pontoons are sufficiently fast to be used for most water sports. Whether its Speed Tubing, Wakeboarding or Water ski a typical pontoon boat is capable of its function.

A typical 26 feet pontoon with 200 hp motor easily reach speeds up to 40 mph. Even under full load conditions, you can go to 30 mph. From my experience, the optimum speed for water sports is 15 to 35 mph.

So your pontoon might be a little slow but will be just fine for any water sports you like to do.

While adding an additional motor or upgrading to a higher power helps. It is the load that restricts overall speed. In a study, it is been said that for every 1000 pounds your pontoon speed is limited by 12-15%.

If you are looking to upgrade your boat motor I suggest you follow this thumb rule; you need to double the power for the speed increased. For example, if you need to double your current speed just quadruple your boat power.

I find this rule back in 2016 reading on different forums. So it’s not scientifically proven but gives a rough estimate; that I find on three occasions quite close to what reality.

The other way to increase your pontoon speed by adding another pontoon/tube in between; thus converting it to a tritoon. Let’s look at the pontoon boat speed chart for some well-known pontoon brands.

If you are like me who likes to go for recreational boating or at least been on a boat in a lifetime. Then you must know a boat is somewhat unstable at rest, but it gains stability as it starts to move.

But do you know your boat can be highly unstable if the speed is too high?

Traditionally stability of a boat or ship is calculated at rest. Which is generally affected by factors such as; free surface, displacement mass, metacentric height, heel, trim, sea condition, etc.

But since ships and boats constantly move its hydrostatic and hydrodynamic characteristics; undergoes significant change with changing center of buoyancy, underwater volume, and pressure distribution.

For a boat or ship, the restoring moment varies with change in speed. Initially, it increases with the increase in speed; then the rate of change decrease and came to a fixed point.

From there on increase in speed has a negative impact on the restoring moment and the vessel becomes more and more unstable with increasing speed.

There is also a change in linear and nonlinear roller damping coefficient. That too affects the ship’s stability as the speed becomes too high.

In other words, vessel stability increase with an increase in speed to a point. Then it stays comparatively constant for some time and decreases with a further increase in speed.

If you do not believe what I say you can see this youtube video and judge on yourself; how too much speed can be sometimes dangerous for yourself and others on board.

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Average Boat Speeds: Pontoon, Cruiser and Sail Speed Examples

How fast do boats go on average?

Is a fast boat the exception or the rule for average boat speeds? 

What horsepower can you realistically expect from the average boat purchase?

Well, these questions can be answered in lots of different ways.

The fastest boat speed record ever was 317.6 MPH. It   was achieved by a man named Ken War who was using a speedboat he named the  Spirit of Australia . To be fair, though, when that boat made its water speed record run back in 1978, it was powered not by a propeller but by a jet engine. Most boats don't go quite that fast (and we're thankful for that). 

Motorboats designed primarily for speed - known as rum-runners in decades past and often called cigarette boats (due to their slender shape) or simply go-fast boats today - can achieve speeds up to 90 MPH with relative ease over calm flat waters.

Even that's quite a bit faster than the average boat speed, and unless you're considering a career in smuggling  (which we don't recommend, by the way), it's probably quite a bit faster than you need to travel over the water.

So, let's talk about average recreational boat speed statistics that are a bit more practical.

Why Boat Speed Matters

Going fast in a boat can be lots of fun.

The enjoyment that comes from speed is a huge plus for adrenaline-seeking boaters. That's one reason why knowing how fast a boat goes is important.

It's also important to consider boat speed when you're getting a boat for water activities. Think about the types of activities for which your ideal boat will be used. You should even consider whether you live in, or want to enjoy your boat in,  high-altitude areas .

Even then, desired speeds can vary. The best speed for a towing activity such as  water skiing  can vary from 10 MPH to 35 MPH. Lower speeds are better for younger skiers and certain trick-skiing activities, and the higher speeds are for more experienced water skiers completing slaloms or jumps. 

As you can see, some action-loving boaters might need a craft with plenty of potential for speed to soar over those saltwater waves .

The fisherman who likes to slowly troll through calm waters or toss out a line and  an anchor, on the other hand, might do well enough with a boat that only cruises along at a top speed of 15 MPH.

If you use your boat for long trips, then balancing speed and fuel efficiency is important.

How you're going to be using your boat should inform the ideal average and top speed ratings of the boat you ultimately buy.

Don't just go looking for a super fast boat that you might not ever really take advantage of. What a waste that would be!

Average Pontoon Boat Speeds

The trusty, stable pontoon boat can travel a good deal faster than many people think.

Pontoon boat speeds  can surpass 30 MPH  under the right conditions. A few pontoon boats can even reach the 35 MPH mark thanks to larger engines and great conditions.

The G3 Suncatcher pontoon boat , with a 90 HP motor, can easily go more than 30 MPH .

A 20-foot Bass Buggy with a 60 HP engine, on the other hand, will only go around 15 MPH .

A middle-of-the-road option in terms of average pontoon boat speed is the 21-foot Triton pontoon boat  and its 90 HP engine. This boat's combination of speed and strength gives it a top boat speed of around 25 MPH even   when you have a few friends aboard weighing it down.

Average Cruiser Speeds

For cruiser-style motorboats that are in the price range of many American families, let's discuss a few options that give a good sense of average powerboat speed.

The Marlow-Pilot 32 has a relatively slow top cruising speed of 16 MPH , but its range at moderate speeds is the more remarkable thing about the vessel. It can travel more than 800 miles without re-fueling.

If you want a motorboat with a bit more speed, such as what a sport fisherman might need, consider the stats of the Pursuit SC 365i Sport Yacht . It can come close to 50 MPH at top speed and cruise comfortably in the 30 MPH range.

Finally, if you're wondering how fast larger motorboats go, the 40-foot Carver C40 Command Bridge cruises along at 30 MPH with ease and is suitable for use during multi-day trips.

Average Sailboat Speeds

Most people use sailboats because they savor the practice of harnessing the wind, not because they expect to go all that fast.

The average cruising sailboat, such as a celebrated Island Packet 420 , will sail along at an average speed of between 8  and 12 MPH  under most decent circumstances.

The world speed record of a sailboat is a bit faster than that, at just over 75 MPH . That breakneck speed was achieved by the  Vestas Sailrocket 2   in 2012.

And just for your interest, have you ever wondered how fast Columbus's ships sailed ? Experts agree that ships of the late 15th century likely cruised along at just under 4 knots and a likely top speed of 8 knots. That's an average boat speed of somewhere between 4 and  9 MPH . 

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Average Boat Speed and Fuel Consumption

Going fast in a motorboat is lots of fun but it can also be very expensive.

To help get a picture of the direct relationship of average boat speed to fuel used, let's select the Formula 240 Bowrider motorboat as our example. This affordable and capable 24-foot speedboat is a common favorite for American families.

At a steady cruising speed of 7 MPH, the 240 Bowrider consumes about 3 gallons of fuel per hour. At twice that speed, around 15 MPH, it consumes over twice the amount of fuel, burning up around 7 gallons per hour.

Double that speed again and the boat consumes 11 gallons of fuel at around 30 MPH. The Bowrider can go well over 45 MPH.

Many powerboats offer relative fuel efficiency at their mid-range speeds, so puttering along at only a few miles per hour isn't necessary for fuel savings. You can cruise at an enjoyable clip and still conserve fuel.

Laws About Boat Speed

It's generally rather easy to figure out the speed limit when you're driving on a road. All you have to do is look for the posted speed limit sign. Knowing boat speed regulations laws is a bit trickier.

The limits aren't always posted and can change based on a myriad of factors, including the type of waterway, time of day (or night), type of boat and more.

And what's more, a boat speed limit is rarely a specific numerical figure.

Once you're out on the open water of a sea, ocean or large lake, it's safe to assume you can take your boat up to its top speed provided you can see the way ahead of you is safe and clear.

Closer to shore - on a river, in the bay or in other such areas - you have to be a bit more cautious.

Generally, you must watch out for "no wake zones," which are enforced in many places, including near docks and marinas, in canals and near the shore in many cases.

To remain in compliance with a No Wake Zone rule, a boat must travel slow enough that it doesn't produce a swell large enough to threaten others in the area (including other boaters, swimmers, animals and so forth).

Most motorboats produce a noticeable wake at speeds greater than 5 MPH. Yes, navigating the way through a no wake zone can be an exercise in patience. But the rules regarding boat speed were designed to help keep all people out on the water safe, from the family enjoying a trip in their pleasure yacht to the fisherman casting a line off of his sit-on-top kayak.

Keep these considerations in mind when you're choosing your boat and taking it out for a spin to test its full speed.

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How Fast Do Sportfishing Boats Go?

By Robert Bowman | Posted On Aug 08, 2022 Updated On Sep 12, 2023

The bigger and more powerful today's marine engines become, the higher speeds sportfishing boats are able to achieve. Combined with the modern construction processes that use high-quality resin-infusion techniques for reduced weight, increased horsepower, as well as improved hull designs, sportfishing boats are easily able to achieve top speeds over 50 knots . Most captains and owners, however, are content with a WOT speed near 40 knots as the extra horsepower can certainly raise the price of the vessel and burn more fuel.

Higher speeds become more important should the owner want to fish in highly competitive offshore tournaments where getting to the fishing grounds faster may mean an advantage over other boats. And let's be honest, there is definitely a sense of pride of being out in front of the pack during a shotgun start.

A common question that gets asked by those new to yacht ownership is, "how fast do sportfishers actually go?". On average, a mid-sized sportfishing boat will have a cruising speed in the high 20-knot range to low 30-knot range, with a top speed in the mid 30 knot range. For the average sportfish buyer that wants to have fun fishing with family and friends, as well as undertake a cruising vacation on their boat, this speed should be just fine.

(Below: The MTU Series 12V 2000 M96 is a popular engine for larger sportfish like the 92 Convertible from Viking Yachts .)

Below is a list of various sportfishing yachts from different builders and different sizes, along with their speeds :

We also asked our United Yacht Sales sportfish experts what they thought was an ideal speed and propulsion package if they were to purchase a boat. Here's what they had to say:

Brian Franc , CPYB : "If I was buying a sportfishing yacht, I would lean towards a semi-custom Viking in the 55-65 foot range with cruising speeds in the 35-40 knot range. I prefer either CAT or MTU engines. If I was choosing a custom sportfish however, I would prefer a Spencer Yacht with the same package as the Viking."

( Below: This Spencer 62 would fit Brian's needs and has a cruising speed of 35 knots. )

Greg Graham : "I love custom boats so my top choice would be either a Willis , F&S , or Bayliss. Engine choices are somewhat limited with the larger sportfishing yachts so probably either the MTU M96 2600HP engines or the new CAT C-32 B-series. MAN also has a new lightweight 2000HP engine out, but at this point I would probably pick the MTU's. Cruising speed in the mid-30 knot range is great, with a top speed in the low 40's. Any faster than that and people on board have to hold on for dear life and it's tough to do anything else."

Mordy Miltz , CPYB : "My ideal sportfish is going to be around 70-feet with either the new CAT-32 B-series engines or the MTU M96L's. To compete in the tournaments I prefer a boat with a top speed around 42 knots with a cruising speed of 35 knots. Important to me though are the draft of the boat and the ability to run it with a single mate."

( Below: This Viking 72 is outfitted with the MTU M96L engines and can reach speed over 47 knots! )

John Blumenthal : "Having grown up fishing for Marlin in Australia, my ideal sportfishing boat is going to be a Bayliss 72. My preferred power is going to be the CAT-C32's that can hit a cruising speed of 35 knots. When fishing tournaments, it's important to have enough horsepower to hit 40 knots."

Christopher Cooke , CPYB : "Similar to Mordy and John, I'm looking for a sportfish that cruises around 35 knots with a top speed of 42 knots. I think that range is probably the most common among buyers in the market. My perfect boat is going to be a Garlington 71 Convertible powered with C-32B ACERT engines."

( Below: The latest 71 convertible from Garlington Yachts was equipped with twin MAN V-12 1900s. )

There are many attributes that matter when selecting a sportfishing yacht that is right for your needs. Speed matters, but so does the draft of the boat, the accommodations, the size of the cockpit area, whether or not the boat has an enclosed bridge or not, and the equipment on board. In today's market, boats with Seakeeper gyro stabilization are often sold faster as it reduces rolling. So unless budget is of no concern, selecting the right boat for you might mean sacrificing a bit of speed. The important thing is to have an open and honest conversation with your yacht broker regarding your goals.

With over 250 brokers worldwide and many sportfishing experts on our team, there is no better brokerage firm to list your yacht for sale or help you purchase one, than United Yacht Sales. To get started with finding the right broker for you, we invite you to give our main office a call at 1-772-463.3131. We look forward to working with you on achieving your boating dreams.

Please enjoy these other sportfish-related articles :

• What Is The Best Size Sport Fishing Boat?
• Why Are Sportfishing Yachts So Expensive?
• How Much Is A Sportfishing Yacht?
• How Much Does A Fishing Yacht Cost?
• What Does A Yacht Broker Do?
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• What Are The Most Popular Yacht Brands?
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• Advertising On Sportfish Trader
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How Fast Do Racing Sailboats Go?

Last Updated by

Jacob Collier

August 30, 2022

Speed thrills, and in a sailboat, it thrills even more. Sailboat racers like to push their boats to the limit. But just how fast do racing sailboats go?

Sailboats come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you are a speed enthusiast, you must wonder about the maximum speeds of different sailboats and if larger sailboats can go faster than smaller ones.

Racing sailboats usually skim over the water at around 15 to 20 knots. For comparison, the average speed of a traditional sailboat is only around 5 to 8 knots. Some custom-designed boats can reach record-breaking speeds of up to 50 or more knots.

Since sailboats don't rely on internal power for speed, many factors determine the speed of a sailboat, and every sailboat has different top speeds.

Experienced sailboat sailors believe that several factors influence the top speed. The size and shape of the boat, sails, and skill level all play a crucial role in determining the speed of a sailboat. Even more than the internal factors, external factors such as the waves and the wind can greatly boost or hinder sailboat speed.

Table of contents

‍ What Influences Sailboat Speed

Sailboats have different shapes and sizes, and different sailboats can reach different speeds. There are many internal factors, such as those related directly to the boat, and external factors, such as weather, ocean currents, etc., that influence the speed of a sailboat.

Boat Size and Length

The most crucial thing that plays a role in speed is the sailboat's length and overall surface area. What does size have to do with speed, you ask? For a sailboat to go fast, you need to maximize the propulsion by the wind and keep drag and resistive forces to a minimum.

As the sailboat moves through the water, it generates waves. One wave that is created among others constantly rides with the boat. It has its peak just in front of the bow, while its trough is at the stern. If this wave is long enough, it can act as a wall of water to the boat.

The aerodynamic shape of the bow is designed to push up and rise above this wave. This allows the boat to lift the bow out of the water and rise above the water surface. As the bow rises, the stern gets pushed down into the water. This reduces the drag and also allows the boat to glide above waves.

But this wall of water creates resistance for the boat, and the sailboat requires power and momentum to break through this resistance. A larger sailboat has more momentum, which allows it to break through the barrier easily. This makes it possible for the larger boat to go faster.

You might think that a smaller boat is lighter and will offer less resistance and drag. Yes, this is true, but a smaller boat generates multiple small waves, which offer more resistance. Lightweight boats are also more susceptible to wind shear and tend to veer off course.

Different boats have different hull designs. The hulls are designed to be narrow and precisely engineered for racing sailboats to offer minimum resistance. It makes sense that a boat with a hull like a bathtub will not even come close to a sailboat with a narrow and streamlined hull.

The hull design also plays a vital role in the speed of a sailboat. A hull built for speed will have a straight line from the lowest point to the aft, and the aft will be wider. This design makes the boat stable and allows it to reach higher speeds.

On the other hand, a boat with multiple curves on the hull and a narrow transom will not be as fast. The reason for the hull playing a vital role in speed is simple. It needs to cut through the water to ensure the least resistance.

There are three major hull types for sailboats.

As the name implies, monohull sailboats comprise one hull. These boats offer high levels of stability, making them extremely difficult to capsize. The hull is designed to cut through the water, which keeps the boat stable, and allows it to pick up speed. The hull can be raised out of the water if you need to go faster. Monohull boats are traditionally designed to sail below 10 knots.

A catamaran, more commonly known as a cat, comprises two hulls running side by side. These hulls are similar in size. Cats are significantly faster than monohulls and can reach between 15 knots and even go more than 50 knots.

The Trimaran is also known as the double outrigger. Trimarans have three hulls, which means they offer more stability and are extremely buoyant. The three hulls allow the boat to gain speed because it rises above the water surface with little resistance. Tamarans can reach speeds of up to 20 knots.

Skill Level

Sailboat racing has become a highly competitive sport. When it comes to speedboats, you can use engine power to hit maximum speeds, but it takes a lot of skill and experience to get your sailboat to move at speeds three times the wind.

The amount of training, skill, and experience you have is crucial to how fast your racing sailboat goes.

The only propulsion you have on a sailboat is the wind. With a good wind in your sails, your boat will move much faster. Both types of winds, apparent and true, play a crucial role in your sailboat's performance. The stronger the true winds, the faster the boat will move.

Waves play a crucial role in your boat's performance. They influence the speed and determine your and your vessel's safety. Calm and serene water can quickly turn aggressive and furious without prior notice.

If the waves are strong enough, and you don't know how to navigate through them, they can easily capsize your boat. Depending on their direction, they can also significantly increase or decrease the speed of your sailboat.

When the medium you are running on, water, is moving fast, your boat will experience a significant increase in speed. You can think of it as walking on a travelator. If you are walking in the same direction as the travelator, your speed will be increased. But, if you decide to walk in the opposite direction to the travelator, you will look weird and will be considerably slowed down.

Going Faster Than The Wind

Two types of winds influence the speed of a sailboat; these are true wind and apparent wind. To understand these better, let us look at an example. Imagine you are riding a motorcycle when there is no wind. As you pick up speed, you begin to feel the wind in your face; this is called apparent wind. It is the air pressure you feel while moving through the still air.

Say you are riding at 20 mph on your motorcycle; the wind you will feel on yourself will be 20 mph. Now let's add true wind to the equation. Say the wind is naturally blowing at 20 mph, and you are heading in the same direction as the wind. The wind pushing you and the apparent wind will cancel each other out if they are perfectly reverse-parallel to one another.

The sails experience the same apparent wind you felt while on the motorcycle when you are on the sailboat. The sails are designed to put the apparent wind to use and help propel the boat further. As you increase your speed, the apparent wind grows stronger, which leads to more wind in your sails.

How Fast do Racing Sailboats Go?

Now that we know the factors that influence sailboat speed, let us look at how fast racing sailboats go. If you are a traditional sailboat sailor, you will be lucky if you can hit 10 knots. But with racing sailboats, you can achieve over 15 knots, and many racing sailboats can hit 20 knots. The fastest anyone has ever achieved on a sailboat is 65.45 knots , a world record.

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Born into a family of sailing enthusiasts, words like “ballast” and “jibing” were often a part of dinner conversations. These days Jacob sails a Hallberg-Rassy 44, having covered almost 6000 NM. While he’s made several voyages, his favorite one is the trip from California to Hawaii as it was his first fully independent voyage.

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Video: “Go Buy a Boat!” How Close Can You Fish to Someone Else Without Being a Jerk?

By Joe Cermele

Updated on Apr 23, 2024 3:45 PM EDT

5 minute read

Screen shots from @stripedbasshunt's Instagram video.

How badly do you need to catch a fish? Naturally we all want to connect when we get on the water, but have you ever asked yourself how much catching a fish really means to you? Are you willing to ruin someone’s day to get it done? Are you willing to be jerk to catch a striped bass? Are you willing to sabotage somebody else’s bite to get your own fix? 

If we were all relying on catching fish to avoid starving in winter, maybe a bit of ruthlessness could be justified, but we’re not. The anglers in the viral video here (shared by @stripedbasshunt ) aren’t starving to death either, yet they needed to catch a striped bass so badly they were willing to get close enough to the angler on the jetty that it stopped him from catching any more fish. The boat angler’s repetitive refrain of “worry about yourself” is another way of saying “I know I’m being a real ass here, but I can’t think of anything better to say to justify my actions.” 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Finn Hawley (@stripedbasshunt)

Sadly, where I live in New Jersey, this kind of behavior is all too common in saltwater when the striped bass are running. It didn’t shock me as much as many other people, but it does provide some fodder to dive into some fishy etiquette. After all, how close is too close?

Shore Anglers vs. Boat Anglers

As far as I’m concerned, anglers on foot always have the right of way. That said, the video that spring boarded this story perfectly captures what are, in my opinion, the lowest level of boating anglers. What cannot be argued by anyone is that an angler with a boat, kayak, or SUP has a huge advantage over an angler fishing on foot. Vessels allow you to travel farther, faster, and reach areas where shore anglers simply cannot go. You can cover tons more water in a single trip. In the time it might have taken the kid on the rocks to walk a few hundred yards down the beach to find more fish, the anglers on the boat could have covered miles of water looking for action. In the striper surf game especially, anglers can’t move around as efficiently, often putting in time, effort, and leaning on luck to get themselves where a cast from the beach lands in range of feeding fish. Mugging an angler like this when you have a few hundred horsepower on your sled and gobs of electronics is downright embarrassing. 

Though it’s more personal for me than a hard rule, I try to stay far out of surfcasting range when running a boat. But in any fishing scenario, if a bank angler can easily hit your boat with a cast, you are way, way too close. The worst infraction I ever witnessed was off Montauk, New York, years ago when stripers were blitzing right in the back of the waves. The surfcasters were having a field day, and all the boats kept their distance—except for one. One guy just had to get in closer than the rest, and he almost got in major trouble for the stunt. Caught in the waves, he nearly beached the boat, and even though he managed to escape, he ruined the bite for every angler on the beach—all of which had walked long, steep cliff trails to get there. 

Even in scenarios where I am fishing tight to the bank, if I see foot anglers approaching, I’ll back off. I don’t believe the “first come, first serve” rule applies in these cases, because again, I can quickly pivot to another area. 

Read Next: Best Striped Bass Lures

Trout Stream Etiquette

Etiquette is more hotly debated among trout fishermen than any other group. The terms “low hole” and “high hole” are part of common vernacular whether you’re dealing with fishermen on foot or rowing drift boats. What they mean is that you’re trying to work a hole or run, and another angler slides in at the top or bottom of the same hole. In some cases, like the combat steelhead fisheries across the Great Lakes, you’d better get used to this, because there are so many anglers on the rivers at times, everyone is just jockeying for enough room to make a drift. But on other trout streams, the unwritten rules are different. 

It’s (supposed to be) understood that the angler who got to a hole or run first earned the right to fish the entire zone top to bottom. If you were gunning for that spot, sorry, move on. Go upstream or downstream, but, if possible, get out of eyeshot of the other angler. Similarly, if you see an angler sitting streamside at a pool, the spot is not fair game because he or she isn’t in the water casting. It’s not uncommon for trout fishermen to stake out a spot waiting for an insect hatch and rising trout. Can this be frustrating on more popular and crowded rivers? Of course, it can, but barging in can make what’s supposed to be a tranquil day outside stressful and awkward. 

Trolling Etiquette

I’ll admit that I’m not a huge fan of trolling for anything, but sometimes you have no choice. As an example, if I’m spending the gas money to get offshore to the tuna grounds and they won’t hit jigs or poppers, yeah, I’ll troll because it took a lot of effort to get there, and I want that meat in the box. Offshore fishing is one arena where you wind up with a bunch of boats trolling a small area. Walleye fishing would be another. But if everyone isn’t playing by the same rules, this can get ugly fast. 

Trolling—despite what too many anglers think—doesn’t make you special or give you the right of way to do what you want. A prime example is during striper season when five boats are casting to a school of boiling fish and a guy on the troll decides to pull his lines right through the blitz, instantly putting the fish down. For the life of me, I can’t understand this move. Not only are you ruining the fun for everyone else, but you’re only going to catch one or two while ruining the fun instead of getting off the troll, casting, and catching a bunch like everyone else. 

When multiple boats are trolling the same area, obviously giving each other room is wise, but if you must troll fairly tight together, take the time to note any patterns. Are the bulk of the boats trolling one direction and turning around at the same point for another pass? Never be the guy going against the grain in close quarters and do everything you can to get out of the way of a boat that’s hooked up to avoid tangles and even more ire and headache. 

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Netizens Are Shook At How Fast “Queen Of Tears” Kim Soo Hyun Can Switch To Actor Mode

Recently, an online community post garnered much attention for Queen of Tears actor Kim Soo Hyun ‘s superb acting skills! One scene in particular had netizens wondering how he filmed it!

The scene was of him looking serious as he gazed at the door as the female lead went in for surgery…

…and after he saw that the doors wouldn’t close, he quickly ran and closed the door and got right back into acting like nothing had happened…

…and instantly started pouring out his emotions and cried his eyes out!

Fans and netizens alike couldn’t believe their eyes at his automatic transition to actor mode!

If you watch the actual scene from the drama, it’s even more prominent how well he delivered the emotions.

김수현 연기 진짜 잘 한다… 부가 설명이 필요가 없음 이런 복합적인 감정을 연기로 표현할 수 있다는 게 너무 감동적임 ㅅ발 pic.twitter.com/B0bJrhQo1Z — 냥지카 (@not4sasalele) April 21, 2024

Netizens praised his efforts into understanding and analyzing his character thoroughly.

• “He is so good…I think he is able to get into character because he analyzed his part well.”
• “His acting is so so so so good.”
• “He did a great job of understanding his character…and honestly he is just really good.”
• “Wow he was able to do that in that type of environment? So crazy.”
• “Wow daebak!!”
• “How does he analyze all this? He’s a genius that still puts in the effort!”
• “How the hell did he do that?”
• “How can I die leaving a man like that…”

This is just more proof that the was born to be an actor! Check out a scene that was actually improvised by him below!

Viral “Queen Of Tears” Scene Was Actually Improvised By Kim Soo Hyun

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After Congress finally does pass new funding, this is how the US can rush weapons to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the US House of Representatives for passing the foreign aid bill in his nightly video-address on Saturday.

FILE -A steel worker moves a 155 mm M795 artillery projectile during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

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FILE - A steel worker manufactures 155 mm M795 artillery projectiles at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE -Steel workers manufacture 155 mm M795 artillery projectiles at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE -155 mm M795 artillery projectiles are stored for shipping to other facilities to complete the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE -A steel worker inspects a 155 mm M795 artillery projectile during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE - 155 mm M795 artillery projectiles are stacked during manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days once Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill . That’s because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs.

Moving fast is critical, CIA Director Bill Burns said this past week, warning that without additional aid from the U.S., Ukraine could lose the war to Russia by the end of this year.

“We would like very much to be able to rush the security assistance in the volumes we think they need to be able to be successful,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday after Speaker Mike Johnson , R-La., pushed a larger foreign aid bill toward a vote despite threats from within his party that doing so could cost him his job . It still needs to clear the Senate.

After the House vote, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he was grateful “for the decision that keeps history on the right track.” He said on X, formerly Twitter that the House action “will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger.”

President Joe Biden has said he would sign it “immediately.”

If that happens, “we have a very robust logistics network that enables us to move material very quickly,” Ryder told reporters this past week. “We can move within days.”

The Pentagon has had supplies ready to go for months but hasn’t moved them because it is out of money. It has already spent all of the funding Congress had previously provided to support Ukraine, sending more than $44 billion worth of weapons, maintenance, training and spare parts since Russia’s February 2022 invasion .

By December, the Pentagon was $10 billion in the hole , because it is going to cost more now to replace the systems it sent to the battlefield in Ukraine.

As a result, the Pentagon’s frequent aid packages for Ukraine dried up because there’s been no guarantee Congress would pass the additional funding needed to replenish the weapons the U.S. has been sending to Ukraine. The legislation would include more than $20 billion to restock the Pentagon’s shelves and ensure that the military services have what they need to fight and protect America.

The lag in weapons deliveries has forced Ukrainian troops to spend months rationing their dwindling supply of munitions.

A look at how the U.S. can quickly move weapons to Ukraine:

PRESIDENTIAL DRAWDOWN AUTHORITY

When an aid package for Ukraine is announced, the weapons are either provided through presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to immediately pull from its stockpiles, or through security assistance, which funds longer-term contracts with the defense industry to obtain the systems.

The presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, as it’s known, has allowed the military to send billions of dollars worth of ammunition, air defense missile launchers , tanks, vehicles and other equipment to Ukraine.

“In the past, we’ve seen weapons transferred via presidential drawdown authority arrive within a matter of days,” said Brad Bowman, director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies center on military and political power.

Those stocks are pulled from bases or storage facilities in the U.S. or from European sites where the U.S. has already surged weapons to cut down on the amount of time it will take to deliver them once the funding is approved.

DWINDLING U.S. STOCKS

As the war in Ukraine has dragged on, the U.S. began to send increasingly larger, more lethal and more expensive systems to the warfront. They included entire air defense systems, armored vehicles, sophisticated missiles — even Abrams tanks .

Those systems cost more to replace , so the military — in particular, the Army — went deeper into debt. Compounding that, the military in some cases opted to replace older systems sent to Ukraine with pricier, higher-tech ones at home.

As a result, Army leaders recently told Congress that without passage of the foreign aid bill, they will begin to run out of money and have to move funds from other accounts.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Gen. Randy George, chief of staff of the Army, said the branch wouldn’t have enough money to bring home troops serving in Europe or to train units in the U.S.

U.S. WEAPONS STORAGE

The military has massive weapons storage facilities in the U.S. for millions of rounds of munitions of all sizes that would be ready to use in case of war.

For example, the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma sprawls across 45,000 acres (70 square miles) connected by rail and has a mission to surge as many as 435 shipping containers — each able to carry 15 tons (30,000 pounds) worth of munitions — if ordered by the president.

The facility is also a major storage site for one of the most used munitions on Ukraine’s battlefield, 155 mm howitzer rounds.

The demand by Ukraine for that particular shell has put pressure on U.S. stockpiles and pushed the military to see where else it could get them. As a result, tens of thousands of 155 mm rounds have been shipped back from South Korea to McAlester to be retrofitted for Ukraine.

STORING WEAPONS IN EUROPE

According to a U.S. military official, the U.S. would be able to send certain munitions “almost immediately” to Ukraine because storehouses exist in Europe.

Among the weapons that could go very quickly are the 155 mm rounds and other artillery, along with some air defense munitions. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss preparations not yet made public.

A host of sites across Germany, Poland and other European allies also are helping Ukraine maintain and train on systems sent to the front. For example, Germany set up a maintenance hub for Kyiv’s Leopard 2 tank fleet in Poland, near the Ukrainian border.

The nearby maintenance hubs hasten the turnaround time to get needed repairs done on the Western systems.

Follow the AP’s coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine .

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How to Thrive as You Age

A cheap drug may slow down aging. a study will determine if it works.

Allison Aubrey

A drug taken by millions of people to control diabetes may do more than lower blood sugar.

Research suggests metformin has anti-inflammatory effects that could help protect against common age-related diseases including heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline.

Scientists who study the biology of aging have designed a clinical study, known as The TAME Trial, to test whether metformin can help prevent these diseases and promote a longer healthspan in healthy, older adults.

Michael Cantor, an attorney, and his wife Shari Cantor , the mayor of West Hartford, Connecticut both take metformin. "I tell all my friends about it," Michael Cantor says. "We all want to live a little longer, high-quality life if we can," he says.

Michael Cantor started on metformin about a decade ago when his weight and blood sugar were creeping up. Shari Cantor began taking metformin during the pandemic after she read that it may help protect against serious infections.

Shari and Michael Cantor both take metformin. They are both in their mid-60s and say they feel healthy and full of energy. Theresa Oberst/Michael Cantor hide caption

Shari and Michael Cantor both take metformin. They are both in their mid-60s and say they feel healthy and full of energy.

The Cantors are in their mid-60s and both say they feel healthy and have lots of energy. Both noticed improvements in their digestive systems – feeling more "regular" after they started on the drug,

Metformin costs less than a dollar a day, and depending on insurance, many people pay no out-of-pocket costs for the drug.

"I don't know if metformin increases lifespan in people, but the evidence that exists suggests that it very well might," says Steven Austad , a senior scientific advisor at the American Federation for Aging Research who studies the biology of aging.

An old drug with surprising benefits

Metformin was first used to treat diabetes in the 1950s in France. The drug is a derivative of guanidine , a compound found in Goat's Rue, an herbal medicine long used in Europe.

The FDA approved metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. in the 1990s. Since then, researchers have documented several surprises, including a reduced risk of cancer. "That was a bit of a shock," Austad says. A meta-analysis that included data from dozens of studies, found people who took metformin had a lower risk of several types of cancers , including gastrointestinal, urologic and blood cancers.

Austad also points to a British study that found a lower risk of dementia and mild cognitive decline among people with type 2 diabetes taking metformin. In addition, there's research pointing to improved cardiovascular outcomes in people who take metformin including a reduced risk of cardiovascular death .

As promising as this sounds, Austad says most of the evidence is observational, pointing only to an association between metformin and the reduced risk. The evidence stops short of proving cause and effect. Also, it's unknown if the benefits documented in people with diabetes will also reduce the risk of age-related diseases in healthy, older adults.

"That's what we need to figure out," says Steve Kritchevsky , a professor of gerontology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, who is a lead investigator for the Tame Trial.

The goal is to better understand the mechanisms and pathways by which metformin works in the body. For instance, researchers are looking at how the drug may help improve energy in the cells by stimulating autophagy, which is the process of clearing out or recycling damaged bits inside cells.

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Researchers also want to know more about how metformin can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which may slow biological aging.

"When there's an excess of oxidative stress, it will damage the cell. And that accumulation of damage is essentially what aging is," Kritchevsky explains.

When the forces that are damaging cells are running faster than the forces that are repairing or replacing cells, that's aging, Kritchevsky says. And it's possible that drugs like metformin could slow this process down.

By targeting the biology of aging, the hope is to prevent or delay multiple diseases, says Dr. Nir Barzilai of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who leads the effort to get the trial started.

The ultimate in preventative medicine

Back in 2015, Austad and a bunch of aging researchers began pushing for a clinical trial.

"A bunch of us went to the FDA to ask them to approve a trial for metformin,' Austad recalls, and the agency was receptive. "If you could help prevent multiple problems at the same time, like we think metformin may do, then that's almost the ultimate in preventative medicine," Austad says.

The aim is to enroll 3,000 people between the ages of 65 and 79 for a six-year trial. But Dr. Barzilai says it's been slow going to get it funded. "The main obstacle with funding this study is that metformin is a generic drug, so no pharmaceutical company is standing to make money," he says.

Barzilai has turned to philanthropists and foundations, and has some pledges. The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, set aside about $5 million for the research, but that's not enough to pay for the study which is estimated to cost between $45 and $70 million.

The frustration over the lack of funding is that if the trial points to protective effects, millions of people could benefit. "It's something that everybody will be able to afford," Barzilai says.

Currently the FDA doesn't recognize aging as a disease to treat, but the researchers hope this would usher in a paradigm shift — from treating each age-related medical condition separately, to treating these conditions together, by targeting aging itself.

For now, metformin is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes in the U.S., but doctors can prescribe it off-label for conditions other than its approved use .

Michael and Shari Cantor's doctors were comfortable prescribing it to them, given the drug's long history of safety and the possible benefits in delaying age-related disease.

"I walk a lot, I hike, and at 65 I have a lot of energy," Michael Cantor says. I feel like the metformin helps," he says. He and Shari say they have not experienced any negative side effects.

Research shows a small percentage of people who take metformin experience GI distress that makes the drug intolerable. And, some people develop a b12 vitamin deficiency. One study found people over the age of 65 who take metformin may have a harder time building new muscle.

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"There's some evidence that people who exercise who are on metformin have less gain in muscle mass, says Dr. Eric Verdin , President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. That could be a concern for people who are under-muscled .

But Verdin says it may be possible to repurpose metformin in other ways "There are a number of companies that are exploring metformin in combination with other drugs," he says. He points to research underway to combine metformin with a drug called galantamine for the treatment of sarcopenia , which is the medical term for age-related muscle loss. Sarcopenia affects millions of older people, especially women .

The science of testing drugs to target aging is rapidly advancing, and metformin isn't the only medicine that may treat the underlying biology.

"Nobody thinks this is the be all and end all of drugs that target aging," Austad says. He says data from the clinical trial could stimulate investment by the big pharmaceutical companies in this area. "They may come up with much better drugs," he says.

Michael Cantor knows there's no guarantee with metformin. "Maybe it doesn't do what we think it does in terms of longevity, but it's certainly not going to do me any harm," he says.

Cantor's father had his first heart attack at 51. He says he wants to do all he can to prevent disease and live a healthy life, and he thinks Metformin is one tool that may help.

For now, Dr. Barzilai says the metformin clinical trial can get underway when the money comes in.

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This story was edited by Jane Greenhalgh