fast land yacht

Fastest speed achieved by wind-powered land yacht

The highest speed officially recorded for a land yacht is 222.4 km/h (138.2 mph) by Horonuku , piloted by Glenn Ashby (Australia), at Lake Gairdner, South Australia, Australia, on 12 December 2022. The yacht was designed and built by Emirates Team New Zealand.

In Maori, Horonuku means “gliding swiftly across the land “, a name apparently not chosen at random by Emirates Team New Zealand, because they succeeded in their intent by achieving an impressive 222.4 km/h in just 22 knots of true wind, racing across the salty surface of Lake Gairdner in South Australia.

Piloting Horonuku was Glenn Ashby, a professional sailor with an outstanding career behind: The team and I are obviously buzzing to have sailed Horonuku at a speed faster than anyone has ever before powered only by the wind – said Ashby – But in saying that we know Horonuku has a lot more speed in it when we get more wind and better conditions. So for sure there is a cause for a celebration, but this isn’t the end.

This record was ratified by the international governing body FISLY (Federation Internationale de Sand et Land Yachting).

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Land Speed World Record Attempt: a Record of the Records

World records are not broken every day, nor are they ever easy to achieve, but when they are there is usually a stringent process of verification that any attempt must go through.

While the recent World record for the oldest tandem parachute jump by 103 year old Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson (Sweden) was verified by Guinness World Records, the Wind Powered Land Speed World Record has two governing bodies. There’s NALSA, (North American Land Sailing Association) and there’s also FISLY (International Land and Sand Yachting Federation).

Pilot Glenn Ashby has been working away in the background organising the required processes to ensure any attempt at the world record will be officially recognised.

“Both of those associations (NALSA & FISLY) can effectively ratify the result.” explained Ashby. Everything needs to be checked off by the official measurer that we will have on site. That judge, if you like, will also oversee the timing equipment and make sure that everything’s above board. We use a GPS system, a timing and a tracking system and there cannot be any stored energy as such in the craft. So every function that you do, whether it be steering or trimming the wing, all needs to be direct drive and provided only by human power. So all things being equal, we should have everything set up really well.“

For Ashby, as the pilot at record breaking speeds that will need to exceed 202.9km/h, his control is not much more than a two finger operation on a lever, some foot pedal pumps and some small steering adjustments when the craft is going really, really fast.

It isn’t just the craft itself that has stringent rules around it, the surface that ‘Horonuku’ will sail on is also restricted. “The wind powered land speed record absolutely needs to be done on a natural surface. So it cannot be a tar sealed road or anything like that.

And that is one of the reasons we are heading towards Lake Gairdner in South Australia. The salt lake is completely natural, it is also a very, very flat surface as the rules also state that the course shall be within 3.3 feet (one metre) in elevation.

But on top of these two rule requirements we’re hoping that the location will provide us also enough grip on the surface and also the wind that will provide us power to go ahead and break this world record.”

There is also a rule specific to starting any speed run that says: “The yacht shall start from a dead stop without assistance from any external source other than humans, on foot, pushing” which means the wider Emirates Team New Zealand Land Speed team will literally be ‘hands on’ for any record run and Ashby knows this better than anyone.

“There’s been some amazing journeys throughout the course of history with wind powered craft. To be part of that history moving forward is a very, very special thing for all of us in this team and something that we hope we can leave our mark on at the top of…’ officially’ of course.”

There is one more key rule to keep in mind: The record speed must be more than one mile per hour (1.6km/h) for at least 3 seconds above the existing record to be beaten.

So the minimum target to exceed for a World Record run is in fact 204.5km/h for Glenn Ashby in Horonuku to become the fastest wind powered craft on land- ever.

16 May 2022

Project speed: ‘horonuku’ ready to wind powered land speed world record attempt.

Emirates Team New Zealand and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei today christened the land yacht to be used in their Wind Powered Land Speed World Record attempt as ‘Horonuku’ in front of team members and land speed suppliers and supporters at their base in Auckland. 

As has become a significant and valued part of Emirates Team New Zealand culture, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as the iwi manaaki of the team have again named and blessed the craft in its endeavour to be the fastest wind powered craft in history.

‘Horonuku’ means gliding swiftly across land. Horo means fast or swift movement and nuku is connected to over earth or land.

Marama Royal, Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust said,  “The name Horonuku captures the purpose and vision of this challenge to pilot this innovative machine to record-breaking speeds over land. For 30 years Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as iwi manaaki has been side by side supporting Emirates Team New Zealand in their successes here in Tāmaki and on the team’s numerous offshore adventures. Over this time we have shared our tikanga and traditions that make Aotearoa unique and once again we are honored to bless and name Horonuku today.”

Piloted by Glenn Ashby, the craft is ready to begin its New Zealand based testing phase at the RNZAF base at Whenuapai in West Auckland where Horonuku will be taken through a series of structural and systems tests over the next few weeks.

For Ashby the day is a very proud day and one step closer to a childhood dream to become the fastest man on land powered by the wind. “I have only been back in New Zealand for two weeks and in that time Horonuku seems to have come off a computer screen and been put together ready to go. I can’t speak highly enough of the design team and the craftsmanship of the production team in creating this amazing craft.”

The design of Horonuku is for out and out speed, the target is the World Wind powered Land speed record currently held by Britain’s Richard Jenkins, whose ‘Greenbird’ land yacht hit 202.9 km/h in 2009.

“Richard’s record will not be easy to beat,” said Ashby. “There is definitely an element of needing the stars to align when achieving a world record like this where you need the conditions on the ground and in the air to be perfect. It is our job now over the next month or so, to get as much useful testing as we possibly can done here in Auckland, before we put Horonuku on a ship to Lake Gairdner to continue testing and tuning on the salt lake so we are ready to roll when a weather window comes along.”

“We hope that today’s blessing and naming of Horonuku with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the team and supporters of the land speed project will help us to align those stars for our eventual record attempt.”

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New Zealand aims for windpowered land speed record

• Toby Heppell
• May 24, 2022

Emirates Team New Zealand are in a bid to set a new windpowered land speed record. Here's everything we know about their plans so far

Not content with being one of the most successful teams in the history of the America’s Cup – and current holders of the Cup – Emirates Team New Zealand is attempting to set a new wind powered land speed record.

The team announced its intention to try for the record in early 2022 and are now well on the way to making an official record attempt.

As of the 23rd May 2022, Emirates Team New Zealand has completed a successful week of testing at Whenuapai Air Base where they have been able to run Horonuku , their speed sailing land yacht, up to nearly maximum load and complete structural and component checks.

As has become a significant part of Emirates Team New Zealand culture, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei (an Auckland-based Māori hapū in New Zealand) as the iwi manaaki of the team have again named and blessed the craft in its endeavour to be the fastest wind powered craft in history.

‘ Horonuku ’ means gliding swiftly across land. Horo means fast or swift movement and nuku is connected to over earth or land.

With a week of testing now under their belts, the team says that in this initial testing week Horonuku has worked extremely well, has been sailed in 15-30 knots and already seen speeds in excess of 140kmph.

The team has another week of testing scheduled before shipping to Australia on 9th June where the planned record attempt will be taking place. During this time there will be some small changes implemented to the steering geometry and wing ballast and finally some testing will take place with the slick rear tyres.

The windpowered Land Speed record

The current wind powered land speed record has stood for an astonishing 13 years, having been set back in 2009 by British innovator Richard Jenkins in his custom built land yacht, Greenbird .

The 2009 wind powered land speed record run was the culmination of a decade of trying to break the record by Jenkins, who had travelled to a series of locations throughout Australia, Britain, and the United States, but struggled to find suitable weather conditions for him to reach maximum speeds. Jenkins eventually found success at Ivanpah Lak, a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert, California.

His record-setting run to set a new wind powered land speed record saw him record 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h) in the Ecotricity-sponsored solid wing-sailed land yacht, Greenbird – the fifth iteration of the craft that he had built over the many years it took him to break the record.

Lake Gairdner in South Australia is a potential location for the record attempt

Jenkins’ new record eclipsed the previous benchmark, which American Bob Schumacher set a decade previously, by just shy of 10mph. It also continued a British tradition for speed that dates to the 1920s, when Sir Malcolm Campbell set several records on land and sea.

Greenbird was made entirely of carbon composite materials, and the only metal parts were the bearings for the solid wingsail and the wheels. The enormous power generated by a solid wingsail and a wide wheelbase meant that Greenbird could achieve vehicle speeds up to five times greater than wind speed.

Solid wingsails of a similar type to that used by Greenbird are now familiar to many sailors – even if they remain the preserve of high performance development designs. The solid wing generates lift in the same manner as an aircraft wing and, unlike material sails, does not deform under pressure.

A well built and engineered wingsail is typically vastly more efficient at speed than a soft sail.

America’s Cup winners to land speed record holders?

It is this incredible efficiency in generating power that has seen wingsails adopted for the America’s Cup . The sail concept was successfully used by BMW Oracle Racing on the giant trimaran in 2010, then also used when the event moved to the high performance AC72 catamarans in 2013.

The kiwis have plenty of experience when it comes to solid wings.

Any seasoned fan of America’s Cup racing will know it is – primarily – a design, engineering and technology contest. It attracts the biggest names in the world of sailing and can make stars out of the winners but, as with the world of Formula 1 (a sport many Cup teams have formed significant partnerships with in recent years) the team with the fastest boat (or car) usually comes out on top.

Emirates Team New Zealand have been totally dominant in the last two America’s Cup cycles so it is unsurprising that they have turned their significant engineering, design and computer simulation skills to trying to become the new wind powered land speed record holders.

The plan currently would see the team take a first run at the record in July / August on one of Australia’s vast salt lakes. Lake Gairdner in South Australia or Lake Lefroy in Western Australia are both potential locations.

Any world record needs to be stringently verified and will require officials from the North America Land Speed Association to measure and record the run with a specific set of rules that must be adhered to in order to qualify for the World Record.

Glenn Ashby has been instrumental in Emirates Team New Zealand’s Cup success – both as part of the sailing team on the water and liaising with design and engineering teams to encourage development.

Australian Ashby came into the New Zealand America’s Cup squad as a performance multihull expert. He has won 3 America’s Cups, an Olympic Silver Medal and 17 World Championships in 4 different classes of boat. Away from sailing Ashby also has a past in land yachts and is a keen motorbiker.

He also shares a long-held interest in the land speed record with ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton. In the lull in the Cup sailing cycle after their 36th America’s Cup victory in 2021, the chance presented itself to try and take on the speed record.

“I have never spent so much time on the computer as I have this past year,” says Ashby, who has been working on the project while unable to leave Australia and go to New Zealand due to covid travel restrictions. “Basically, from the point that Dalts said ‘let’s look at it’ after the finish of AC36, we have been all go.

“First job was a two-week in-depth feasibility study to ensure enough of a global understanding that this was something that could be done in a positive way for ETNZ and would not impact the team and its America’s Cup objectives financially or resource wise.”

Emirates Team New Zealand’s landyacht will look similar to current record holder, Greenbird . Photo: Emirates Team New Zealand

The New Zealand land yacht

“In doing our research and digging deeper and deeper into the intricacies of the design challenges, it became very apparent that Richard [Jenkins, builder of Greenbird ] really did an incredible job with his world record design.” explains Ashby.

“As a team we explored some pretty creative and innovative conceptual ideas in the quest for more speed, however in the end our design and performance principles evolved into a concept reasonably similar in basic layout to the existing record holder, which really emphasised to us what a huge challenge this will be.”

New territory

Wind power will be very familiar to Emirates Team New Zealand, as will the design, technology, complex composites work, aerodynamics, and many other aspects of building a land speed record holder. But what will be a new challenge for the team will be the wheels and tyres, about which they have almost no experience.

The man leading the charge in the area is Mechanical Engineer Tim Meldrum, a mountain biking enthusiast – one of the key designers behind the legendary Cyclors mechanical system that was so integral to the team’s success winning the America’s Cup back for New Zealand in 2017.

Wheels and tyres represent a new area for Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo: Emirates Team New Zealand

The team will be using a mixture of off-the-shelf wheel and tyre combinations for the outrigger and twin rear wheels, but have custom designed and manufactured their own front wheel in order to get the steering accuracy they need.

With a craft likely to be so similar to Greenbird, it will take everything Team New Zealand knows about marginal gains to beat the current wind powered land speed record. Areas such as machining their own front tyre might just turn out to be the vital advantage they need to set a new record.

“The objective is to design a craft that becomes the fastest wind powered land yacht ever.” said Glenn Ashby.

“And no one would have ever been that fast in a wind powered craft on or off the water. So that’s a pretty bloody exciting thing to try to become.”

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America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ want to set a new speed record of over 100kts

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LAND SPEED PROJECT

After the 36th America's Cup victory in 2021, the stars aligned for Emirates Team New Zealand to aim for the current World Wind-powered Land speed record. The attempt took shape when the passion for speed of Grant Dalton – Emirates Team New Zealand CEO – and the childhood dream of Glenn Ashby -  a key team member for over 10 years – met the expertise in the technical and research industries of Team Principal Matteo de Nora. In a few weeks, they put together the core group that, just over a year ago, started working through the new design and engineering challenges entirely focused on beating the existing Speed World Record.

THE RECORD: 202.9 km/h (126.1-mph)

The Wind Powered Land Speed World Record is currently held by Britain's Richard Jenkins, whose 'Greenbird' land yacht hit 202.9 km/h (126.1-mph) in 2009 across Ivanpah Lake, a dry lake in the California's Mojave. It took him ten years to achieve the result.

World records attempts must undergo a stringent verification process with either NALSA (North American Land Sailing Association) or FISLY (International Land and Sand Yachting Federation). - Must be sailed on a natural surface with a flat elevation within 1 metre of elevation - Starting only by human push start allowed for the record run - The record speed must be more than one mile per hour for at least 3 seconds above the existing record (>204.5km/h x 3")

THE CRAFT: Horonuku

'Horonuku' - meaning gliding swiftly across the land - has been conceptualised, designed and built by Emirates Team New Zealand. A one-of-a-kind 14-metre hard-winged land yacht with no engines. It's all about wind. Instead of a conventional sail, Horonuku uses a rigid wing that produces thrust, as an aeroplane wing produces lift. The entire craft is built of carbon composite materials, aside from the metal parts used in bearings for the wing and the wheels.  Length (long mode) = 14.2m Max Beam = 8.2m Wing height from ground = 11.1m Wing = tailplane actuated unstayed rigid wing spar Total Mass (incl max ballast) = 2800kg Power = wind only, no stored energy allowed Wheels = 2x inline rears 18", 1x front and 1x pod 15" Construction = vacuum-formed carbon fibre epoxy sandwich panel main body elements Controls = steering from wheel, brakes/tail flap trim function from foot pedals/hand levers

THE PILOT: Glenn Ashby

Born in 1977 in Bendigo, Australia, Glenn is a long-time Emirates Team New Zealand member with an outstanding sailing career that includes, among others, three America's Cups, an Olympic silver medal and 17 World Championships in four different classes of boat.

EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND: The core group

To face the design and engineering challenge of Horonuku’s endeavour to be the fastest wind-powered craft in history, Emirates Team New Zealand had to put together a few of their best member. Together with Team Principal Matteo de Nora, the core group consists of naval architects Guillaume Verdier, Romaric Neyhousser and Benjamin Muyul, Mechanical/Structural engineers Jeremy Palmer, Romain Gard, Tim Meldrum, Adrian Robb and Jarrod Hammond and shore crew members Sean Regan and Dave French.

THE LOCATION: Lake Gairdner, Australia

Lake Gairdner is located about 440 kilometres northwest of the state capital of Adelaide and 150 km from the nearest town along dusty outback roads. The lake is over 160 km long and 48 km across, with salt over 1.2 metres thick in some places. The usually bone-dry salt lake in South Australia had 50mm of water in it in July due to abnormal weather conditions. About 100mm of water evaporation is expected each month, and as summer approaches, this will only increase. As will the winds, with October expected to be the windiest month of the year in the location.

THE CONDITIONS:

It's a technical and tactical challenge as highly contingent on weather and conditions. Constant evaluation and plan adjustments are essential to ascertain the perfect weather window to attempt the record. Just a few knots could equal success or failure. Approximately 30 to 35kts of wind and a dry surface are crucial elements to have a chance of breaking the current record. 'Horonuku' needs about 7km distance to go from a standing start to full record speed.

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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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The Wind-Powered Greenbird Sets Blistering Speed Records

The British-engineered Greenbird land yacht is the fastest wind-powered vehicle on earth. It’s a feat of engineering which highlights the role that air plays in all high-speed cars . What can vehicles like the Greenbird teach us about high-speed performance vehicles?

RELATED: The OceanBird: This Giant Futuristic Sail Boat Will Blow Your Mind

The Greenbird set the record for fastest wind-powered vehicle

Land sailing events are often the stage for land speed records. On March 26, 2009, the Greenbird launched across the dry lakebed at Ivanpah, California. The previous record had been 90 mph. With perfect weather conditions working in its favor, the Greenbird screeched to 126 mph. The previous record was crushed by more than 30 miles per hour.

How does the Greenbird move so fast?

The Greenbird and other land sailing vehicles rely on ultra-light-weight materials and perfectly honed aerodynamics. Air-powered vehicles need to be carefully designed to work with the air, not against it. The slopes and angles of each surface of a car can change the amount of drag it causes.

The Greenbird design team also added a balanced outrigger to provide downforce. This helps keep the vehicle to the ground. The outrigger also improves handling and increases the safety of the vehicle.

Every material was carefully chosen to balance weight and performance perfectly. Land sailing vehicles need to be as lightweight as possible. The Greenbird is made of layered carbon fiber for strength without bulk. The only metal used in the vehicle is found in wheel and steering bearings. The Greenbird fights against physics less which allows it to move very fast with little energy use.

The wind-powered record-breaker for distance

Another wind-powered vehicle set the record for the greatest distance traveled overland. The Wind Explorer is a lightweight electric passenger vehicle. An onboard wind turbine charges the Wind Explorer overnight. Two men used this technology and a kite to power the cutting-edge car across the continent of Australia.

What car manufacturers can learn from the Greenbird and Wind Explorer

The automotive industry is rapidly evolving. Automakers are moving away from fuel-guzzling engines to renewable options. Even automakers dedicated to power and performance are carefully fine-tuning the aerodynamics of their cars.

Legendary performance brand Porsche has been carving extra speed and power out of better aerodynamics for years. Producing lighter, faster vehicles is the new focus. Torque is no longer the measure of a performance vehicle. Porsche has dedicated 20% of its development budget to pulling more power from its engines. The other 80% is designated for improving efficiency.

Tesla is well known for using unconventional materials in its cars. The Cybertruck, for example, has a compressed paper dashboard. Switching to light materials is a trend that will continue to grow and become commonplace. The future of speed is lighter weight and better aerodynamics, not increased power. The most efficiently used energy is the energy you never spend.

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Danyell Marshall

Danyell Marshall had written for and about the automotive industry for over a decade when she joined our squad in 2021. Danyell graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of Massachusetts Amherst; fascinated with engineering and performance driving, she also spent five years as a mechanic, served as a shop manager, and has supported several rally drivers in various capacities for 15 years.

Using her technical and driving experience, layered with her tenured career in digital journalism, Danyell writes for our industry with a comprehensively tuned voice. She has created content for HotCars, The Richest, Moms.com, and other associated sites, all while traveling the country in a converted school bus.

The 20 Fastest SuperYachts in the World

By Alex Holmes

Updated on August 14, 2023

Yachts were always associated with leisure, comfort, and luxury, floating gently in a gorgeous location or cruising unhurried to the next, but somewhere along the way, something changed. Yachts started becoming faster and more powerful, and their owners more obsessed with these characteristics than anything else. But that’s the way with every kind of vehicle these days, isn’t it?

Mankind is obsessed with speed. That’s a given. And it applies to everything, including superyachts, which, despite their size, can achieve impressive speeds over water.

Whether that speed is actually needed is debatable, but one can’t ignore that there are quite a few capable yachts out there and that the competition for the fastest superyacht in the world is a fierce one, as in everything that involves the man’s thirst for speed.

The following superyachts manage to blend both the need for speed and the craving for luxury. But these are above everything else, the fastest yachts in the world right now.

Let’s have a look.

• 20. Cara Montana – 45 knots

Cara Montana is a smaller yacht, manufactured in 2019 by a shipyard based in Genoa, called Otam. It’s a gorgeous maritime vehicle which spans only 25.9 meters in length, but is beautiful and powerful enough to impress.

Powered by twin MTU engines, outputting a total of 5,200 hp together, and equipped with twin surface drives, Cara Montana is able to reach a top speed of 45 knots, or just under 52 mph.

• 19. Alamshar – 45 knots

Completed in 2014 after a waiting time of 13 years spent in the manufacturing process, the Alamshar yacht can reach 45 knots, thanks to its twin Rolls-Royce Marine engines and three waterjets.

The naval architecture of the vessel was made by Donald L. Blount & Associates, the exterior design by Pininfarina, and the interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon. The whole project was put together by the Devonport shipyard in Falmouth, United Kingdom.

The Alamshar is 50 meter long, and costed a jaw dropping $200 million, paid by Aga Khan IV, for whom the custom yacht was made.

• 18. Moon Goddess – 45 knots

Another lovely vessel from the superyacht world is the Moon Goddess. It’s on the smaller size, being only 35 meter long, but it’s capable of reaching 45 knots. The ship was built by Danish Yachts, with the naval architecture and exterior designs made by Espen Øino, a superyacht design icon.

The Moon Goddess can take up to six guests in three posh cabins, two twins and one for the owner, plus a crew of five. It’s propelled to a cruise speed of 25 knots, or the maximum of 45, by twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines which generate a combined 7,498 hp.

• 17. Shergar – 45 knots

The acclaimed German shipyard Lürssen built Shergar in 1983 to be among the fastest yachts in the world. Decades later, it still holds its own among better and more technological advanced vessels.

Equipped with two MTU 12V 396 TB83 diesel power plants, and two Allison 571-KF gas turbines, the Shergar is capable of cruising at 40 knots and reaching a top speed of 45 knots.

• 16. Seafire – 46 knots

Seafire is a super yacht manufactured by AB Yachts, an Italian shipyard known for some impressive vessels. This one is among their fastest, able to reach a top speed of 46 knots.

The 42 meter super yacht is powered by a setup of three MTU 16V M94 units and three waterjets, giving it the possibility to cruise at an impressive speed of 43 knots, only 3 below its top speed.

• 15. Octopussy 007 – 53.2 knots

Built back in 1988 by the renowned Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts and carrying a little of James Bond in its name, the Octopussy 007 is a 43.5 meter super yacht that can accommodate up to 10 guests and 7 crew members.

The vessel is powered by three MTU diesel engines that deliver 10,440 hp together, propelling the Octopussy forward at a cruising speed of 25 knots and a top speed of 53.2 knots.

It was on display at multiple boat shows around the world, and it changed owners for the last time in 2021. The naval architecture was done by Mulder Design, the exterior by Gerhard Gilgenast, and the interior by Art Line and Joachim Kinder Yacht Design.

Inside, it comes with 5 posh and extremely comfortable guest cabins, 1 master, 1 twin, and 3 double.

• 14. Daloli – 54 knots

The Daloli, also known as Pandion, built by Heesen Yachts, is a 36.5 vessel that enters the category of super yachts and impresses with a top speed of 54 knots, the equivalent of just over 62 mph.

The ship has a crew capacity of 6 and can host up to 8 passengers. There’s four cabins in total on its three decks, and the sheer beauty of its design can be seen both inside and on the outside.

It’s a real beauty, and a fast one as well.

• 13. Why Not U – 55 knots

Originally named Nobody, the Why Not U was designed in 2001 by Overmarine as a deluxe super yacht that’s capable of getting his 9 guests and 3 crew to their next dream destination with a top speed of 55 knots. The power comes from a setup of Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines.

When it comes to living on it, it offers an impressive range of amenities on its teak decks. There’s several dining spots, entertainment and lounge rooms, sun bathing areas, and plenty more to be had on board of this stunning super yacht.

• 12. Ermis² – 57 knots

The 37.5 meter super yacht Ermis², manufactured from special materials by the New Zealand shipyard McMullen & Wing, is among the fastest vessels out there, capable of a top speed of 57 knots, which is just a little over 65 mph.

The ship came out in 2007, but is still among the most innovative yachts in the world given the mix of composite materials, aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium for its lightweight body.

That low weight, combined with the 10,944 hp outputted by the three MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines, allow this stunning yacht to reach that max speed of 57 knots.

• 11. Chato – 57 knots

Chato is another small sized and powerful super yacht. It was built in 1986 by Baglietto from aluminium and was equipped with twin MTU 16V 396 TB94 diesel engines, which push it to a cruise speed of 35 knots and a max speed of 57 knots.

Chato is only 25.79 meters long, and that helps with a lower weight and a smaller profile under the surface of the water.

• 10. Azimut Atlantic Challenger – 60 knots

The Azimut Atlantic Challenger strays away from the usual design of luxury yachts, but that only because it was built for a very different purpose, which was to win the Blue Riband award, an unofficial accolade given to a ship for making the fastest transatlantic crossing.

Unfortunately, the Azimut Atlantic Challenger failed to win, but it remained one of the fastest super yachts in the world, currently holding the 10th position, with a top speed of 60 knots.

It was built in 1988 by the Italian shipyard Benetti, with the exterior designed by Pininfarina. It’s a 26.82 meter aluminum monohull vessel and is powered by four CRM diesel engines, capable of outputting a combined 7,400 hp.

• 9. Jet Ruban Bleu – 60 knots

The French built Jet Ruban Bleu is on par with the Azimut Atlantic Challenger and two other super yachts, at least when it comes to the top speed. They can all do 60 knots.

Jet Ruban Bleu is 25 meter long, was designed by Gilles Ollier and Coste Design & Partners and created by Multiplast. It was outfitted with a single MTU engine capable of 3,500 hp alone.

• 8. Oci Ciornie – 60 Knots

Oci Ciornie was a super yacht project that was realized by American shipyard Palmer Johnson, the Dutch Vripack, and the well known naval architect Don Shead in 1998.

The vessel features an aluminum hull, and uses two 1,800 hp MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines, a 4,600 hp AVCO Lycoming gas turbine, plus Arneson surface drives. This combination propels the Oci Ciornie with a top speed of 60 knots.

The ship is able to carry up to eight guests in a master suite, a double cabin, and a twin room. There’s a nice and streamlined deck that features a superb saloon and outside areas for relaxation, while the interior takes inspiration from aircraft designs.

• 7. Brave Challenger – 60 Knots

With the same 60 knot top speed of the above ships, the Brave Challenger is to be lauded, since it’s much older, being built back in 1960. The project was completed by Vosper Ltd in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, with the intention of becoming a Brave Class fast patrol boat. It was only later that the ship was converted for private use.

The Brave Challenger is powered by three Rolls-Royce Proteus gas turbines, which output a total of 13,500 hp, which combined with the only 31 meter length and lower weight, can push the boat to the top speed of 60 knots.

• 6. Kereon – 62.3 Knots

The Italian yard AB Yachts, the one behind Seafire above at number 16, built in 2004 one of the fastest super yachts in the world, the Kereon. It’s capable of hitting a top speed of 62.3 knots, and that thanks to the three CRM diesel engines that produce a good 6,300 hp.

Since the total power is so low in comparison to others on this list, it makes sense that a shorter length of 27 meters and a performant hull design are at play to aid in reaching those speeds.

The ship has a very sporty aesthetic, all metallic silver, and can cruise at 50 knots for about 900 miles.

• 5. Gentry Eagle – 63.5 knots

Gentry Eagle was a special project done by Vosper Thornycroft in 1988 for the legendary Tom Gentry, who achieved almost everything he could achieve in terms of powerboat speed records during his lifetime, including the coveted Blue Riband. The vessel, capable of 63.5 knots, helped him win the Blue Riband in 1989, with a record time of 62 hours and 7 minutes.

Gentry Eagle’s design was done by Grant Robinson and Peter Birkett, with the interior by Robin Rose. In 1992, the ship became a private super yacht.

• 4. Galeocerdo – 65 Knots

Galeocerdo is a very futuristic looking ship, with sleek lines and a hull designed to maintain high speeds in rough sea conditions. It measures 36 meters in length, and is capable of hitting 65 knots.

The vessel was built in 2003 in Italy, by Rodriguez Yachts and is powered by three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each tied to a Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jet. The total power output rises to a whooping 16,800 hp.

• 3. Destriero – 66 knots

Destriero was launched back in 1991 by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. It has a length of 68.18 meters and features a design made by Pininfarina and Donald Blount. This ship was again built with the sole purpose of winning the Blue Riband by breaking the old record of crossing the Atlantic.

She did it in 1992, after it crossed the ocean twice without refueling, setting a new record of 58 hours, 34 minutes, and 5 seconds. but the Blue Riband award was denied for her, since it’s awarded only to passenger vessels and not private yachts.

What allowed Destriero to set a new record was the power of 54,000 hp, given by the Codag engine and the three GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines, pushing the ship to a max speed of 66 knots, or 76 mph.

• 2. World Is Not Enough – 67 Knots

The Dutch superyacht World Is Not Enough, built in 2004 by Millenium Super Yachts, comes second place with a top speed of 67 knots. The vessel is powered by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines, which give an output of 20,600 hp, and a good 3800 nautical miles cruising range at a cruising speed of 10 knots.

With its 42.4 meters of luxury and beauty, World Is Not Enough can accommodate up to 10 guests and 7 crew members in five extravagant cabins, offering plenty of comfort and areas for relaxation. The vessel features formal dining spaces, indoor bar, and al fresco dining and lounge areas on all decks, for the ultimate pleasure away from civilization.

• 1. Foners – 70.1 knots

The Foners is currently the fastest super yacht in the world, with a 70.1 knots top speed, keeping the first spot since its delivery back in 2000. The power behind its top speed comes from two MAN engines and three Rolls Royce gas turbines, combining together to output a whooping 21,380 hp.

Her cruising speed is 12 knots, and allows her to reach a range of 1,800 nautical miles.

But of course speed isn’t everything here, as the eye is impressed a lot when stepping on board. Built by the Spanish shipyard Izar, Foners comes with splendid interiors, formal dining rooms, and plenty of space on the decks for al fresco dining. Its 6 crew and up to 8 guests can be accommodated on board, in luxurious cabins.

These are the fastest super yachts in the world, a competition that keeps on going, dominated for the last two decades by the Spanish vessel Foners.

As technology progresses, it will be interesting to see how it holds up against newer yachts.

About Alex Holmes

With over 10 years of experience in media and publishing, Alex is Luxatic's director of content, overlooking everything related to reviews, special features, buying guides, news briefs and pretty much all the other content that can be found on our website. Learn more about Luxatic's Editorial Process .

2 thoughts on “The 20 Fastest SuperYachts in the World”

Bolide by VICTORY DESIGN is now by far the fastest yacht; speeds up to 76 knots have been recorded by this 80ft full carbon pleasure Yacht, powered by three MAN V12 2000 diesel engines.

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Nominees > Sailing , Technical

Living , Modern

Bob Dill, an adventurer at heart, is an ice boat racer, and at one point held the world speed record in a land yacht.

Accomplishments and Honors:

• Co-pilot/designer of the Iron Duck, set land speed world record in 1999 (108.8 mph)
• Later speed recorded by co-pilot of 116.7 mph -record has stood for 10 years
• Dill was second fastest pilot – at 112.3 mph
• Extensive scholarly work on speed characteristics of wind-powered ice and land yachts
• Subject of award-winnng film “Iron Duck”, produced by Ben Dolenc

A film about Dill’s pursuit of the Land Sailing Speed Record was released to tremendous acclaim is 2020. The following is excerpted from the introduction to this film, “Iron Duck”, produced by Ben Dolenc:

“It almost ended before it started, with the crash of their first-speed yacht record attempt, the disaster that broke the short-lived Wood Duck. The Iron Duck tells a story of how Bob Dill and Bob Schumacher went on to build and sail the fastest wind-powered vehicle in the world.

In 1999, they shattered the 100 mph mark and secured a place in the record books that held for ten years to the day. The wind-powered world speed record was an obsession of Dill’s who thought he could break it with the initiative engineering ideas he had to build the Iron Duck. Bob Dill’s infatuation with the speed record drew him to drag his best friend Schumacher along across the country every year for a decade. They persevered through unpredictable playa conditions, design iterations, and entirely self-funding an ambitious record attempt. The campaign was a success with Bob Schumacher, who set a new and seemingly unbeatable speed record at 116.7 mph. However, both friends have always wanted for the trophy to be in Bob Dill’s name.

Today, we follow Bob Dill as he brings the legendary boat out of retirement to sail it one last time (his 70th birthday) before scrapping it and saying goodbye to the 30-year project. As in the speed trials, the wind doesn’t readily cooperate, and Dill has to decide if he is ultimately ready to let go of the dream of the Iron Duck.”

To view the film, or for more information: https://bowsprit.co/iron-duck

Link to article with interview of Bob Dill: https://vtsports.com/bob-dill/

Link to Sailing Scuttlebutt Article on Bob Dill and “The Iron Duck”: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/12/31/recognizing-bob-dill-and-the-iron-duck/

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Fast yachts for sale: speed demons and dashing dayboats

Powerful, showy and thrilling, these boats are all about getting places – at speed. Perfect for short day cruises, weekends away or just opening the throttles at sea for the sheer joy of it. The era of austerity and rocketing fuel prices may have dampened the ardour of some for these speed demons, but with their sleek, sporty looks and unabashed power they still hold immense appeal. Moreover, these kind of yachts are often ground-breakers, whether it be hull design, build technology, new materials or fuel efficiency, so the fuel bill may not be as high as you fear.

And while top speeds can be impressive, they are more likely to be reserved for special occasions. More important for normal operation is performance at cruising power and range, so they really come into their own as dayboats and weekenders. Take your pick from this powerful pack, and start planning your Friday getaway…

Mistral 55 | 52 knots/47 knots

When a yacht takes the name of a strong wind, you can guess that her performance is going to be promising and this Pershing 115 does not disappoint, delivering a blistering 52 knots thanks to 12,500hp from twin Codag MTU engines and triple waterjets. She cruises at a no less impressive 47 knots, and comes with oodles of Italian style courtesy of Fulvio de Simoni , who was responsible for her naval architecture, styling and interior.

Mirage | 50 knots/45 knots

One of the fastest luxury yachts in the world, the 30 metre Mirage tops out at 50 knots thanks to her three 2,430 hp MTU engines coupled with Arneson drives. She is fleet of looks too with an immense glass windshield that flows back to the open deck space, a sleek black hull and low-riding superstructure, with a flybridge that melds into the yacht’s lines. Launched in 2010, she is the second Baia 100 to be built and accommodates up to 10 guests in suitably slick style.

Shooting Star | 48 knots-plus/40 knots

This 38 metre carbon flyer packs a punch with her 48 knot speed, but that’s only from the standard configuration of twin 16 cylinder MTU engines. With space for 20 cylinder engines, her innovative hull has been tank-tested all the way up to 65 knots. Combined with an ultra-light, pared-back Scandinavian style, acres of glass and tip-top technology, Shooting Star is one fast lady.

Daloli | 54 knots-plus/37 knots

Built by Heesen for the Sultan of Brunei in 1995, Daloli (ex- AA Absolute ) has some superlatives to her name. Her 16 cylinder MTU engines are boosted by triple waterjets and can push her to a no-holds-barred 54 knots, while at a cracking cruising speed of 37 knots she has a range of 1,000 nautical miles. Performance is matched by an ultra-modern interior, of course.

AB 116 | 50 knots/44 knots

Speed is obviously a priority when a yacht such built using the light, strong materials and technology developed for the aerospace industry, but it is not the sole raison d’etre of the AB 116 , for these innovations also eliminate vibrations, making the ride smooth even at 50 knots. Power comes from triple 2,400hp MTUs linked to water-jet drives.

Moon Goddess | 53 knots/44 knots

Styled by Espen Øino and built by Danish Yachts in 2006 for the owner of Princess Mariana , Moon Goddess  - now listed for sale with Burgess - was in many respects the predecessor of Shooting Star. The carbon fibre open sports yacht is light and manoeuvrable, with 16 cylinder MTU diesels driving twin water jets for speeds of up to 53 knots.

Ermis² | 55 knots/45 knots

The need for speed prescribed this unique New Zealand-built 37 metre superyacht’s power systems, design and construction – a whole new class of ultra-light technology. She was built specifically for getting to weekend destinations fast, and that means faster than a Force 10 wind at her 55 knot top speed. She also copes with any seas and with her extended ocean range of 2,300 nautical miles at 30 knots, the world could be your oyster almost every weekend. Ermis2 is now listed for sale with Ocean Independence.

One More Toy | 42 knots/35 knots

One of a kind, One More Toy is the only Pershing Pininfarina Limited Edition in the world, and with those Italian car designer credentials her styling is appropriately reminiscent of fast cars, right down to the Ferrari red leather interiors and Ferrari Grigio Silverstone paint job. With throttles open she tops 42 knots and cruises at a cracking 35.

And if you are looking for speed without fuel consumption, here’s a super sailer that would leave the average superyacht in its wake.

Swift | 30 knots under sail

The world’s fastest sailing catamaran – formerly known as Orange and more recently Gitana 13 – has been converted into a fast cruiser that is still capable of 30 knots under sail. She has set quite a precedent for gobbling up nautical miles – taking 43 days to sail New York to San Francisco, 11 days from San Francisco to Yokohama and 41 days from Hong Kong to London. Maybe a bit more than a weekender, but still an exhilarating ride without regard for the price of fuel.

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More From Forbes

A cheetah’s ‘peak velocity’ is governed by these 2 laws, new study says.

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Here’s how medium-sized animals, like the cheetah, occupy an optimal balance between muscle size and ... [+] body mechanics.

Being the largest or having the longest limbs doesn’t guarantee the title of the fastest in the natural world. For instance, elephants and giraffes are giants among animals, with the latter boasting some of the longest limbs. Yet, when it comes to sheer speed, they are outpaced by the likes of the cheetah, which, despite its moderate size, claims the crown for the fastest land animal, with a top speed of 75 mph.

While larger animals might boast greater strength and longer lifespans, when it comes to speed, the sweet spot is right in the middle—not too large, not too small—according to a recent study published in Nature Communications .

The traditional belief was that the singular barrier to an animal’s maximum speed was primarily determined by the physical strength and the mechanical efficiency of its musculoskeletal system. This concept revolved around the idea that an animal’s ability to generate force and the biomechanical design of its limbs were the key factors limiting its top speed. Essentially, it was thought that the stronger and more efficiently an animal could propel itself forward, the faster it could go.

However, this new study illuminates a more complex reality: there are, in fact, two distinct limits determining an animal’s peak velocity.

What Two Limits Affect An Animal’s Top Speed?

The first, referred to as the “kinetic energy capacity limit,” is related to how quickly muscles can contract, while the second, referred to as the “work capacity limit,” concerns the extent of these contractions. An animal maxes out its top speed based on whichever of these two limits it encounters first.

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Despite their energetic efforts, rats are constrained by their body size, limiting their maximum ... [+] speed. Their powerful muscle contractions can't overcome the physical limitations imposed by their small stature.

Crucially, the study found that this wall is not arbitrary but is directly linked to the animal’s size. Medium-sized animals, such as the cheetah, which weighs between 75 and 140 pounds, find themselves perfectly poised at an intersection where the balance of muscle contraction speed and extent propels them to explosive sprints other animals can only dream of.

To grasp how this plays out in nature, consider the rat. Small animals like rats can produce large forces in relation to their body weight, which should theoretically enable them to move quickly. However, despite their powerful efforts, there’s a limit to how much speed they can gain due to the kinetic energy capacity limit. And while their muscles may contract quickly, the small scale of their bodies means they can’t leverage this speed over longer distances or convert it into greater velocities. Essentially, they’re operating at maximum efficiency within a very limited scope, unable to break through to higher speeds due to their size.

Elephants, with their majestic size, face their own speed limitations. Their massive bodies and ... [+] muscle strength are not enough to counteract the gravitational forces they endure.

On the other end of the spectrum, consider a large animal like the elephant. Its muscle strength does not scale up sufficiently to counterbalance the increased gravitational force it experiences. This is why, despite elephants’ powerful appearance, they cannot achieve or maintain high speeds as effectively as smaller, more proportionately muscled animals. This limitation in the power-to-weight ratio means that as animals increase in size, there’s an inevitable decline in their maximum speed potential.

The Study May Also Explain Variations Across Animal Groups

The study also offers insights into the broader differences in speed across various animal groups. Take, for example, large reptiles such as lizards and crocodiles. These creatures, despite their daunting appearances, generally don’t match the speeds of their large mammalian counterparts. But why is this the case?

A key factor lies in the composition of their bodies. Reptiles typically have a smaller percentage of their body weight dedicated to limb muscle compared to mammals. This anatomical difference means that reptiles hit the “work capacity limit” quicker and at a lower body weight. For reptiles to remain agile and move quickly, they need to keep their body size relatively small.

Animals Larger Than 40 Tons Would Struggle To Move

While all land animals are inherently designed to navigate the space around them, the study, refined with data from existing species, unveils a hypothetical boundary—land animals tipping the scales beyond 40 tons would find movement to be a monumental struggle.

The African elephant, the largest land mammal today, weighs in at approximately 6.6 tons, a figure that comfortably sits below this critical threshold. Yet, the colossal titans of the prehistoric era, such as the titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum , are thought to have weighed vastly more, surpassing the 40-ton limit.

Prehistoric giants, like the titanosuar Patogotitan mayorum, likely possessed unique musculature ... [+] adaptations, enabling them to move despite their enormous size.

This poses intriguing questions about the daily lives and survival strategies of these ancient behemoths. How did these gargantuan creatures navigate their environments, find food or evade predators? What does their existence and the physical limitations they encountered tell us about the natural laws that govern size and speed across the animal kingdom?

These new findings challenge us to consider how the laws of physics and biology converge to shape the natural world, offering a compelling reminder of the intricate interplay between form, function and the environment.

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“We have a world-class supply chain that demands immediate response.Industriel came to us with creative, cost saving solutions related to inventory management. Last year we identified a 3% savings across one category.”      — Marcos Valtea

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The fastest-growing and shrinking counties in the US

• Newly published estimates for counties showed how population growth changed from 2022 to 2023.
• Among counties with at least 20,000 people, Kaufman County in Texas was growing the quickest.
• There was an uptick in counties with population gains, a Census Bureau press release noted.

Texas had several counties that saw the quickest population growth between 2022 and 2023.

According to a press release from the Census Bureau , six of the 10 fastest-growing counties among places with at least 20,000 people in 2022 and 2023 were in that state. That result is based on the percent increases in population from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023.

The recently published population data involves the 3,144 counties and county-equivalents in the US and shows the population for these areas as of July 1, 2023. There was a rise in the number of counties that saw growth from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, compared to the number of counties that had population increases the previous year. The press release noted this surged from 52% of counties to around 60%.

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All three counties in Delaware saw their populations rise from where they stood on July 1, 2022. Florida, Idaho, and Tennessee all had over 90% of their counties seeing an increase. Connecticut had eight out of nine counties with growth, 14 out of 16 in Maine, and 21 out of the 24 in Maryland.

Illinois only had 14 of 102 counties see population increases. In West Virginia, eight of 55 counties saw population growth.

You can hover over the areas on the map below to see what population growth and declines looked like across the country.

"Areas which experienced high levels of domestic out-migration during the pandemic, such as in the Midwest and Northeast, are now seeing more counties with population growth," Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Branch, said per the press release. "Meanwhile, county population growth is slowing down out west, such as in Arizona and Idaho."

While several of Arizona's counties did see a slowdown, 13 of the 15 counties in Arizona saw some kind of population growth from 2022 to 2023. Pinal County saw the fastest growth among the counties in this state, rising 4.1% to 484,239, which is actually a higher percent increase than the change for July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022.

While none of the 10 fastest-growing large counties were in California, three California counties had the largest percent declines among big counties. Natural change, which is based on births and deaths, and net domestic migration contributed to Lassen County in California being the county with the biggest percent decline among the big counties in the country.

Watch: Massive Texas fire burns out of control, razing half a million acres of land

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