| The Luderitz Speed Challenge ends with l’Hydroptère record unbroken |
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| Monday, 30 November 2009 11:32 |
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The last day of racing saw Rob Douglas hit just over 50 knots, with his brother Jamie close behind with an excellent 48.67 (both on Cabrinha kites), and Alex Caizergues (F-One) again in the top three with 48.55. Charlotte Consorti (F-One) had another very good day with a top speed of 43.07 knots, and Melissa Gil (Cabrinha) marginally upped her US outright women’s record to 38.00 knots. It was a great event for the North American Speed Sailing Project, the organisation set up by Rob Douglas to “bring the records home to America”, with Rob and Melissa both taking home a new record, and Jamie Douglas hitting world-class speeds, despite being new to the sport. This will be a team to watch in the future. The French, however, dominated as usual, with Alex Caizergues, Sebastien Cattelan and Christophe Prin-Guenon dominating the rankings, and a slew of their compatriots regularly getting 45+ knot results. The South African contingent made a strong showing, but didn’t achieve the results of last year. They will be back. Competitors are now stretching out tired muscles, attending to bruises and sprains and packing their gear, tired but happy after spending so many weeks chasing the records. This year's Lüderitz Speed Challenge saw better equipment and improved technique allow sailors to push the limits further, and get faster speeds in lighter wind. The record of French sailboat l’Hydroptère still stands unbroken at 51.36 knots. Given a few knots more wind in Lüderitz, this record would surely have fallen, but this is the great drama of speed sailing – it is skill, talent, equipment, technique, bravery… and a great deal of luck with the conditions of water and wind. This year’s Lüderitz Speed Challenge saw a number of new kite speed and outright national records (these are all official, but still to be ratified by the WSSRC).
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