Photo courtesy of Adrien Fevrille

The WSSRC has ratified the last and final record from Luderitz, handing over the crown of Speedsailing to Rob Douglas (USA). Earlier in the week, the World Speed Sailing Record Council already ratified the achievements of Charlotte Consorti (FRA, 50.43 knots – first woman ever over 50 knots) and Sebastien Cattelan (FRA, 55.49 knots).

It has been a thrilling month in the Namibian desert, with many national and world records broken. It was first up to the defending kite world record holder Alexandre Caizergues (FRA) to claim back the outright record from the multi-million-dollar hydofoiling trimaran Hydroptere, before Cattelan rised the bar to become the first sailor again exceeding 55 knots (he was the first one over 50 knots already in 2008).

Unfortunately Caizergues’ glory lasted only 14 minutes until Rob Douglas flew down the course, setting the new outright world record to an incredible 55.65 knots.

Record: World Sailing Speed Record
Venue: Luderitz, Namibia
Name: Rob Douglas USA
Equipment: Kitesurf. Mike Zajicek custom. Kite Cabrinha Switchblade 9 sqm
Dates: 28th October 2010
Course length: 501M
Current: Nil
Start time: 14; 10; 25.12
Finish time: 14; 10; 42.62
Elapsed time: 17.50 seconds
Speed: 55.65 knots
Corrected for current: N/A