Innovative Zephir Project sets three new world records
- Water sports athletes Antoine Albeau and Pierre Schmitz set new speed sailing world records at Prince of Speed ISWC World Championships
- HP joins growing European technology initiative
- Extreme-condition data analysis supports development of recyclable high-performance materials
- Environmentally responsible board engineered for a circular lifecycle
Paris, 24 September 2026 – Founded by engineer Marc Amerigo and multiple windsurfing world champion Antoine Albeau, the Zephir Project combines innovative technology, human achievement and environmental sustainability. Since 2025, the project has been supported with products and services from Bechtle’s French subsidiaries Apixit, Bechtle direct, Bechtle Comsoft and Inmac wstore. Continuous advances in technology and performance have enabled Zephir to reach new milestones. Most recently, HP became part of the partner network.
Water sports athletes Antoine Albeau and Pierre Schmitz set three new world records for the Zephir Project at the Prince of Speed ISWC World Championships in La Palme, France. Zephir co-founder Antoine Albeau achieved an average speed of 44.97 knots over the nautical mile (1,853 m), equivalent to 83.28 km/h. Competing on a wingfoil, Pierre Schmitz recorded 36.14 knots (66.93 km/h) over 500 m and 33 knots (61.12 km/h) over the nautical mile. The records have been submitted to the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) and are awaiting official ratification.
Zephir is constantly pushing the boundaries of speed. The project combines cutting-edge technology with extensive testing and data collection conducted under extreme windsurfing and wingfoiling conditions, both on the beach and on the water. Using precise simulations and advanced computational modelling, engineers analyse material properties and continuously optimise their performance. At JEC World 2026 in Paris, the world’s leading trade fair for composites, Zephir Project, together with its partners, unveiled the SpeedEco #01, an environmentally responsible board built from recovered carbon fibre, resin and a recyclable foam core, and engineered for a circular lifecycle. This prototype provides a solid foundation for its future commercial development.
What began as a high-performance watersports project continues to unlock new opportunities for innovation in technology and sport, with sustainability at its core. Zephir Project co-founder Marc Amerigo: “The expertise of partners such as Bechtle is instrumental to the success of this project. Through the combined computing power of our European partner network and the close collaboration between its members, we can tackle complex physical challenges.”
The Bechtle group in France provides Zephir with a broad portfolio of solutions covering IT procurement, software licensing, cybersecurity, managed services and modern work. The project brings together seventy partner companies, including contributions from engineers at ALTEN and data scientists at BPCE Solutions Informatiques. HP recently joined the initiative and is supporting the project’s ongoing work by providing a cluster of several high-performance workstations.
Mathilde Bluteau, Vice President, Bechtle group in France: “Zephir demonstrates the impressive results that European innovation can achieve. The world records set in La Palme are not only a sporting success, but also proof that technological innovation, data and sustainable materials development can deliver outstanding results when brought together. The project highlights how knowledge gained through data, research and practical testing can be applied far beyond the world of sport. We are proud to contribute our expertise and work alongside our partners to address real-world challenges and deliver measurable results.”