| The Luderitz Speed Challenge promises World Record |
| Friday, 13 November 2009 11:49 |
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In the build up to this weekend’s forecast of heavy wind, many people are optimistic that this year’s Speed Challenge will again produce new national and international speed sailing records. What many people overlook though, is the fact that these results will only become official records after the governing body, the World Sailing Speed Records Council of the International Sailing Federation, ratifies the results. This is why Michael Ellison, the WSSRC commissioner overseeing the 2009 Lüderitz Speed Challenge, is a very important man. “What this means,” he went on to explain, “is that no-one has found the optimum formula yet.” This year has seen a lot of development on the speed boards - last year the boards were wider with a distinct cut-out at the tail, this year the boards are narrower, with more flex and some concave. There’s also been a lot more training, so the riders have a lot more experience under their belts. “Any one of the these guys, or girls, could have the right wind, blowing in the right direction, with the right water at the right time, and then we could have another two knots. Then we’ll have a new world record,” says Michael.
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