While the Vendée Globe grabbed headlines over the winter with a record fleet of 31 boats France boasts a yet more extraordinary fleet of boats the Ultimes.

Fastest yacht speed. Developed over the last 30 years by teams attempting to break the non-stop round the world record the Jules Verne Trophy these giant 32m long by 23m wide flying multihulls are the fastest offshore racing yachts by far. The highest speed officially recorded for a land yacht is 2029 kmh 1261 mph by Greenbird piloted by Richard Jenkins UK at Ivanpah Dry Lake Prim Nevada USA on 26 March 2009. Blowing the competition out of the water is the latest model from Greek boatbuilder Technohull.

Pershing - 41 knots Italian shipyard Pershing s yacht Le Caprice IV can reach speeds of up to 41 knots. The 259-metre yacht is powered by twin MTU engines for a combined total of 5200hp as well as twin surface drives. Greenbird is contructed from carbon composites while airflow over the vertical sails propels the craft to reach up to five times the real speed of wind on land.

It can accommodate two crew and six guests and moves quickly with four diesel engines. Speed is serious business among yacht makers with several yards vying to create the worlds fastest superyachts and its only fitting that your tender should be able to keep up with the mothership. Its called LHydroptere and the French concept sailboat -- with its marine style wings -- basically flies on the water.

7 Oci Ciornie by Palmer Johnson. CNETs Molly Wood meets Alain Thebau. For now the list is topped by 415 metre Foners as the worlds speediest superyacht.