| Kiteboarders speed up for world records at Luderitz |
| Friday, 07 December 2012 17:46 |
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Kiteboarders are already accelerating at the 2012 Luderitz Speed Challenge, Namibia, in relaxing 20-to-25-knot wind conditions.
This year, the bar has raised. The Vestas Sailrocket 2 has stolen the world speed sailing record from Rob Douglas, the fastest kiteboarder on Earth. A couple of weeks before the kite challenge of Luderitz, the Vestas Sailrocket 2 has smashed its own world speed sailing record after hitting 65.45 knots (121.21 km/h) over 500 meters, in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Now, it is time for revenge. Sébastien Cattelan, the French record holder, has already sailed over 50 knots in light conditions. The other French rider, Sébastien Salerno, is already aiming for higher grounds. Cattelan did four runs over 50 knots to lead the way with 51.97 knots. Salerno finished the day with two runs and 50.59 knots. Jochen Bock, the German kiteboarder, improved his previous best speed (42 knots) on his first run with 43.02 knots, and later broke the German Kiteboarding Record with 46.6 knots. He's close to the National German Record held by the windsurfer Christian Bornemann, at 46.75 knots. |










