Mr. Stoeckl is nicknamed "Hercules," not only because he drank the milk of a lion when he was younger, but also because he is 6'4", weighs 220lbs and travels at 130.7mph on a bicycle. Mr. Stoeckl devastated the previous record by a blistering 14.0mph. The super speed antics took place on a 2000m stretch at a 45 degree run in the Chilean Alps. To prevent his helmet from fogging up, Mr. Stoeckl had to hold his breath for the entire 40s it took to complete the distance. There is no video of this available as yet, but if you were at the Chilean Alps, with your camcorder and managed to get the blurry super-hero on camera, drop us a line. The guys at Wired asked a very interesting question; how the hell did he stop? Drop your suggestions below. [Wired]

A breeze of just 12 knots is needed to allow the Hydropt re to fly. Rising 15 feet out of the water, just the carbon fiber ailerons - as strong as the landing gear on an airplane - beneath the trimaran's keels remain in contact with the water, reducing drag to almost zero, and allowing the yacht to hover over the waves. One crewmember steers, while the others bounce around the boat, tightening and loosening sails. And should something go wrong, there is a panic button on the boat, which brings it to a swift halt.

"We're on the border of two worlds, sailing and aeronautics," says Th bault, who has contemplated an attempt on the west-east Transatlantic crossing record. That currently stands at four days and eight hours, and the French vessel would need optimum weather and constant winds over the 3,000 miles.

The Hydropt re currently holds the one-mile and 500-meter records, and has got French knickers in a right old twist. The nation, whose fast train, the 357-mph TGV, became the fastest thing on two rails earlier this year, is counting on the boat to capture the world speed record for sailing, currently held by an Irish windsurfer.

Already the trimaran has hit 47.2 knots in training, just 1.5 knots below the two-year-old record held by Finian Maynard, which Captain Th bault will be attempting to smash in Brittany this winter. "The 50-knot mark in sailing is a bit like the sound barrier in flying," he said. "After that, everything is possible." [Times Online via Luxist]