Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2008 – the end...for now

The Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2009 is already being planned, and will likely run over four weeks in October next year. The media coverage of this event has been phenomenal – specialist speed-sailing Websites, monthly sailing magazines, general sports periodicals, prime-time television.

“This event has been fantastic in every way. We achieved what we came to do – to break the 50 knot barrier and set a new world record in Lüderitz. We also saw every competitor sail faster than they’ve ever sailed before. The speed strip here has massive potential – we have only just started. We are looking at new ideas for the chop killer, other strips that can provide windsurfers great sailing, and getting a better idea of how the wind and tides work here to get the best possible conditions to take us to the 100kph level and beyond,” said Fred Dasse of ESF Events.

After the red flag went up to end the sailing yesterday, Sebastien Cattelan and the Netherlands' Rolf van der Vlugt stayed out to see what could be done as the wind suddenly picked up even more in the late afternoon. On GPS they both far exceeded the current records, with Cattelan going over 60 knots peak speed, and 54 knots average over 250m! With the right conditions, there is no end in site for how much faster speed sailors can go at the second lagoon in Lüderitz.

Below is a list of all the records that were broken.
Record Name Speed (knots) Speed (kph) Sponsors
Outright world speed sailing record Alexandre Caizergues (France) 50.57 93.65 F-One, Ouest Provence, Volkswagen Utilitaires, ION, Placide
Outright world women's speed sailing record Sjoukje Bredenkamp (South Africa) 45.20 83.70 Naish, Roxy, Oakley

Outright USA speed sailing record Rob Douglas 50.54 93.59 The Black Dog, Cabrinha, Lynch Associates, Dakine, Amundsen
Outright South Africa (and Africa) speed sailing record Grant Ross 48.79 90.35 Naish Africa, C3 fins
Outright Netherlands speed sailing record Rolf van der Vlugt 46.95 86.94 Airush, Mystic, Protest, TUDelft, X-tremeboards
Outright Namibia speed sailing record Jurgen Geiger 44.90 83.15 Ocean Spirit, North, Free Air
Outright UK speed sailing record David Williams 44.78 82.93 Best Kiteboarding, Dead Man clothing, KMS
Open water windsurf record Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Switzerland) 44.74 82.85 Red Bull, VW, North Sails, Basf, Ecotel, Proof boards, Oakley, Mystic
Outright France women’s speed sailing record Charlotte Consorti 44.74 82.85 F-One, Nike, Maui Magic, Baracuda, Weleda
Spain kitesurf record Marc Avela 42.76 79.19 Reef, Oakley
Outright Slovenia speed sailing record Jernej Privsek 43.42 80.41 Jägermeister, Cocta, Kitesfera, Garmin
Outright New Caledonia (and Pacific) record Joan Henaff 41.01 75.94 Nouvelle-Caledonie North Kites
Outright Belgium speed sailing record Christian Baret 40.87 75.69 Summerwood Guesthouse
Outright Netherlands women’s speed sailing record Katja Roose 39.58 73.30 Protest, Maui Magic, Airush, X-tremeboards
UK women’s kitesurf record Jemma Grobbelaar 38.18 70.70 Flexifoil, Xelerator, Dakine, Arnette, Derevko, Cti, Lizzy, Island Tribe

NB - all speeds are still subject to ratification by WSSRC