Since yesterday, L’Hydroptere is no longer the fastest sailing vessel. Its previous record of 51.36 knots was broken numerous times by Kite surfers. The Lagoon Luderitz lived up to all expectations with many new records being broken.

The Luderitz Speed Challenge 2010 (being held from 4 to 31 October) is based in Luderitz, Namibia, just over 1100 miles north of Cape Town, along the western African continent. This is the 4th edition of the event, which is held under the scrutiny of the World Speed Sailing Record Council (WSSRC) and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The challenge is to see who will set the fastest average speed over a 500-meter distance.

Scores of competitors dramatically improved on their Personal Best sailing speeds and five competitors reached 50 knots and more. Winds of around 40 were recorded and the new Speed Channel is proving to be a definite winner for competitors. Once again the organizers of the Luderitz Speed Event have produced record breaking conditions for competitors to be recorded in the Speed Sailing Hall of Fame.

For more, visit www.luderitz-speed.com.

Added 13 October 2010, 14:00:

It’s official. One new World Speed Sailing Record and five new National Records in one day.

Alex Caizergues has officially set a new World Speed Sailing Record at 54.10 knots during his first run at 15:38 yesterday afternoon (12 October 2010).

Five new National records were broken on the same day:

Kite Surfing:
Rob Douglas (USA) 51.88

Stefan Metzger (Namibia) 45.02

Gavin Broadbent (New Zealand) 50.93

Tim Pumpa (Australia) 46.78 (best kite speed record performance)
Charlotte Consorti (French Womens National record) 45.23

Windsurfing:

Anders Bringdal (Sweden) 44.80

Zara Davis (UK) 36.99 (Female World performance with Production Board)
Sebastien Cattelan (France) is placed second in the world speed sailing rankings at 52.33 knots.



The battle for the title of “the fastest speed sailor in the world” is far from over with more big winds forecast in Luderitz for most of October.