With the 2010 Luderitz Speed Challenge just around the corner, here’s a bit of history around successive improvements in performances at Luderitz between 2007 when the event started, to what we can expect in 2010.
In 2007 the first Lüderitz Speed Challenge was held and existing speed sailing records were broken by kitesurfers. The 2nd fastest time in speed sailing ever was recorded - 1st place was held by windsurfer Finian Meynard from the Virgin Islands.
The second event, in 2008, saw kitesurfers break all existing speed sailing records and officially become the fastest sailors in the world - for the first time smashing the mythical 50 knots in World Speed Sailing. Changes were made to the course - a ‘chop killer’ (i.e. a wooden barrier) helped improve the 500m water surface to ensure a smoother slide and increase the wind speed angle, resulting in increased performance and new maximum speeds being reached:
- 2007: 47.77 knots over 500m averages
- 2008: 50.57 knots over 500m averages.
In November 2009, Luderitz saw even more innovative planning:
The organisers created a canal alongside the existing 500m speed strip to ensure flat water and a better wind speed. This decision was made in order to challenge the new speed sailing record of the Hydrofoil « L’HYDROPTERE » of 51.36 knots (95km/h over 500m averages), which was set one month prior to the 2009 Luderitz event.
Recently, a GPS (tool of measure) world record of 53.06 knots (98km/h over 500m averages) has been set in Lüderitz by Sébastien Cattelan. This proves the potential of the 2010 Lüderitz Speed Challenge, which always verifies speeds with the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council), who officiates all speed world attempts: On the way to 54 knots - the new world challenge to break the 100km/h barrier!
Source: Sébastien cattelan & Sophie Routaboul
Click here to visit Luderitz Speed Challenge’s website.
