With light, summer winds looming, the Windjet team has stood down from ‘land record status ready’ (see photo left) to turn all energy towards the next step in the project, the radical new Windjet water craft.

Windjet is a British campaign to shatter three World Speed Records on Land, Ice and Water using wind power alone.

The current land record stands at 116.7 mph (187.8 km/h) and is held by America. The current water record stands at 46.52 knots (53.53 mph, 86.2 km/h) held by the Australians. And, the current ice record, also held by the Americans, stands at 143 mph (230.1 km/h).

The Windjet Land Craft already holds the British record at 113.4 mph and travels at a staggering ‘five times’ the real wind speed. The vehicle has been clocked during testing at speeds well in excess of the current world record and now awaits a weather opportunity to ratify the record officially.

The Windjet Water Craft, which is under construction, is the result of over five years research and development and represents a significant leap in sail craft design. The aim is to shatter the ’50 knot Barrier’ which is becoming known as the ‘Holy Grail’ of yachting. The concept has been developed from complex computer modelling, through detailed wind tunnel testing, to free sailing 1/5th scale models on the open water. The Water Craft will be unveiled during the Summer of 2002, until such time all design details are classified.

The Windjet Ice Craft is predicted to reach speeds approaching 200 mph (322 km/h). The ice craft will commence construction later this year, to challenge the record in Canada during the winter of 2002/03. The ice record, which would produce the fastest naturally powered human on the planet, has remained unbroken since 1943.

Although Team Windjet will be concentrating on the design and construction of the new water craft, the Land craft will be out and about this year attending its hectic schedule of shows during the summer, including the 7th Waddington International Air show. Following the exhibition season the craft will return to record challenge status once again at RAF Waddington, when the autumn winds set in.