50.57 kn

Luderitz Speed Challenge saw a thrilling showdown today, with Robert Douglas and Sebastian Cattelan missing the world record only by 2/100th of a second (Rob) and 3/100th of a second (Sebastien).

The top three men in the world are now at 50.57, 50.54 and 50.52 knots. 

With a even better forecast for tomorrow everything looks like a big, big final !

All details, results, rankings and pictures at www.luderitz-speed.com

ISWC board member Alain de Gendt visited the venue of the 2008 ISWC production worlds a few days ago. Here is what he has to report: 

Dungarvan or better said the sandbar connected to the “Cunnigar” in front of the nice town of Dungarvan, is one of the best speed spots I ever laid eyes on. The “Sunny South East Coast” of Ireland has a lot to offer to windsurfers.  This is due to the south-westerly’s that regularly come in from the Atlantic Ocean. The stats we got from the Department of the Marine speak for themselves.

A new harbour record has been set by Anders Bringdal with a speed of 38.48 knots and the majority of competitors on the course today exceeded 30 knots. Wind speeds reached 30 -35 knots plus gusts.

The Race-Trax GPS timing system was trialled in the extreme conditions and appeared to perform excellently - more details later when time permits.

The results are available here some additional runs will become available and a full listing of names added. Unfortunately a number of sail numbers were not legible.

Yesterday the Lüderitz Speed Challenge saw Sebastien Cattelan of France become the first human being to sail at more than 50 knots (93kph) – a world record he held for only 24 hours before compatriot Alexandre Caizergues snatched it away with not one but three runs over 50 knots – reaching a top speed of 50.57 knots (93.65kph).

Alexandre Caizergues (FRA) is the fastest sailor on earth now, with a blistering 50.57 knots run today, accompanied by several more 50s and high 49s. Several more national outright records have been broken today in Luderitz, full results, pictures and interviews at www.luderitz-speed.com

Registration or the 2008 ISWC production board world championship (29.11.-06.12.2008) is open. Please register by using the link on the right side of the website ("Event Registration Online"). Please note that only production board equipment registered with ISAF is eligible to race.

A full report from Alain de Gendt, who has visited the venue last weekend, will follow shortly.

It was a massive Friday at the Luderitz Speed Challenge, with a new outright world record, and the magic 50 knot barrier broken by Sebastien Cattelan of France with a blistering run of 50.26 knots (93kph). The new record, still subject to ratification by a sitting of the World Speed Sailing Records Council, has placed the small coastal town in the southern part of Namibia firmly on the map for the extreme sport of speed sailing, where sailing boards, windsurfers and kitesurfers use only the natural elements to power them to almost 100kph speeds.