They're the fastest, and they smashed records. Windsurfers and kiteboarders have broken world, national and personal records at the 2015 Luderitz Speed Challenge, in Namibia.
The speed channel was improved, once again. Riders have fine-tuned their sailing techniques, and the equipment has evolved. With winds blowing in the 40-knots range, records naturally fell.
Two world records have been broken. Windsurfers Antoine Albeau and Karin Jaggi improved the speed windsurfing marks in both male (53.27 knots) and female (46.31 knots) divisions.
Half a dozen national records fell at the hands of sailors from six different nations. Others have improved their personal best. The ultimate goal is still breaking the speed sailing world record in the hands of the Vestas Sailrocket 2: 65.45 knots.
The 100 km/h mark (53.99 knots) is nearly hit, but will board riders ever beat the boat led by Paul Larsen? Check the best marks of the 2015 Luderitz Speed Challenge:
Speed Sailing World Records at the 2015 Luderitz Speed Challenge
Antoine Albeau (France): 53.27 knots (Windsurfing)
Karin Jaggi (Switzerland): 46.31 knots (Windsurfing)
National Records at the 2015 Luderitz Speed Challenge
Patrik Diethelm (Italy): 52.33 knots (Windsurfing)
Mark Grinnell (South Africa): 51.83 knots (Windsurfing)
Farrel O'Shea (Great Britain): 51.20 knots (Windsurfing)
Matthias Rottcher (Namibia): 50.91 knots (Windsurfing)
Christian Bornemann (Germany): 50.20 knots (Windsurfing)
Boris Vujasinovic (Croatia): 48.99 knosts (Windsurfing)
Martin Hulinsky (Czech Republic): 43.52 knots (Kiteboarding)
Andrew Redfern (Fiji): 41.89 knots (Windsurfing)
Personal Records at the 2015 Luderitz Speed Challenge
Sylvain Hoceini (France): 53.04 knots (Kiteboarding)
Thierry Bielak (France): 49.94 knots (Windsurfing)
Erik Beale (France): 49.74 knots (Windsurfing)
Christophe Richaud (France): 49.28 knots (Windsurfing)
Manfred Merle (Germany): 48.62 knots (Windsurfing)
Raffaello Gardelli (Sweden): 48.57 knots (Windsurfing)
Laurent Fesquet (France): 48.55 knots (Windsurfing)
Alberto Possati (Italy): 47.11 knots (Windsurfing)
Christian Benzing (Germany): 46.11 knots (Windsurfing)
Christian Maillet (France): 41.65 knots (Windsurfing)
Heidi Ulrich (Switzerland): 37.21 knots (Windsurfing)
Updated on November 17th.