Catch me if you can!
Paul Larsen and his team “Sail Rocket” have shattered the 60 knots (65.45 knots over 500m or 121 km/h) in Walvis Bay in Namibia. This is a real technological feat and the result of years of hard work. Congratulations to him and his team.
The team is currently in Walvis Bay, Namibia and the least we can say is that there is now a huge gap between the record holder and the runner up (55.65 kts held by the kiteboader Rob Douglas).
The 500m record:
1 – 2012 – Paul Larsen (sailrocket) – 65.45 kts World Record Speed Sailing
2 – 2010 – Rob DOUGLAS (kiteboarding) – 55.65 kts Kitesurf World Record
3 – 2010 – Sébastien CATTELAN (kiteboarding) – 55.49 kts
4 – Alexander Caizergues (kiteboarding) – 54.93 kts
5 – Sébastien SALERNO (kiteboarding) – 54.28 kts
6 – Sylvain Hoceini (kiteboarding) – 52.90
7 – Antoine Albeau (windsurfing) – 52.05 kts Windsurf World Record
etc …
Windsurfers break the 50 knot barrier!
THE 50 KNOT BARRIER IN WINDSURFING IS BROKEN!
After the previous days promising results, everyone felt that breaking the 50 knot barrier was a done deal.
On the 4th race day, this never-before-broken barrier was smashed! Records kept tumbling almost with every run this afternoon. Some of the speeds still need to be confirmed by the Time Keeper.
First, the Swedish Record Holder Anders Bringdal broke the 50 knot barrier twice, with 50.41 and then 50.46 knots improving the world Record on Production Board as well!
After that Antoine Albeau surpassed Anders’ performance with 50.62 knots recovering his position of World Record holder in Windsurfing, which was also shortly held by Cédric Bordes in the afternoon with 49.66 knots.
Zara Davis has also improved her World Record in Windsurfing with 44.92 knots and also Lena improved her Turkish Record with 43.81.
The record on Tandem has been also broken (1 board / 2 sails / 2 riders) with 38.12 knots!
And lots of other National Records were smashed!
Mark Grinnell from South Africa and Matthias Röttcher from Namibia were successively improving their national records which they had already broken earlier during the day.
Mark: 46.49 kts and Matthias: 46.69 kts.
Jurjen Van Der Noord, the Dutch competitor who has just made his first runs today broke the Dutch Record with 47.53 kts.
Patrick Diethelm has improved his Swiss Record and is the 3rd time in the Windsurfing world as well with 49.71 knot!
Nick Vardalachos from Greece and the British Farrell O’Shea improved their record.
Nick: 48.84 kts and Farrell: 48.21 kts.
Christian Benzing who was battling with his German fellow countrymen, broke the German Record in Windsurfing with 45.57 knots.
This incredible day has now gone into the windsurfing history books.The world’s windsurfing community was waiting for a “come back” in Speed Sailing. The goal of the 2012 “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” was to work on that point and offer the best conditions to finally break this mythical barrier. We can expect even better results during the coming days.
Windsurfing World Record Attempt: More Records!
Windsurfing World Record Attempt: Day 3
Even though the forecast has announced only moderate wind, riders were really motivated to hit the gust again today!
The atmosphere was unusually peaceful – this group of competitors is really enjoying the conditions and the event, without hesitating to put their hands into the sand to help achieve the common objective: break records.
The current speed windsurfing Namibian record holder Matthias Röttcher watched the event in the media and decided to take his 4×4 across the desert to join us early this morning and take the chance to claim a new record! After testing the channel he improved his existing record of 41.44 kts to 42.32 kts.
Windsurfers from all over the world are following the event and are starting to realize that the Luderitz Speed Challenge is one of the biggest opportunities for them to be in the speed sailing limelight together with boats & kitesurfers.
The international support to riders and organisers is unbelievable. Encouragement from all corners of the world is streaming in.
On day 3, Zara was again the 1st to jump into the water, and it is paying off: thanks to her we open the race every day by celebrating a new record, and thereafter it does not stop!
Antoine Albeau was leading the day with 48.57 kts but Anders Bringdal went further with 48.60 kts, improving the World Windsurfing Record on production board, and claiming the new Swedish Record.
Dieter Gerichhausen again beat the German record in Windsurfing with 44.01 kts, but – like yesterday – was followed by Christian Bornemann who was faster still, ending with a new German record with 44.41 kts.
Their German team mate Christian Benzing went faster in less wind today and come closer with 42.81kts!
Patrick Diethelm went faster in less wind with 46.55kts, improving his Swiss Record from yesterday.
Lena improved her Turkish record with 42.6 kts.
Cédric Bordes managed to reach the 3rd best speed of the day with 47.83 kts.
Windsurfing World Record Attempt 2012: World Records broken !!
During the 2012 “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” 16 different nationalities will come together over 6 weeks.
This week France, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Turkey and Sweden have sent their representatives.
The first 2 days of this Windsurfing World Record Attempt have already created a communication buzz all over the world!
Antoine Albeau, who is currently – and has been for 20 times in the past – the World Champion in Slalom held the previous World Windsurfing Record of 49.09 kts (2008), has just broken it again today with 49.41 kts!
The fact that this close-to-50-knots record was set in only 38 knots of wind, makes us all see the possibilities of the next days with more serious wind conditions!
The Swedish legend Anders Bringdal, who lead the 1st day, broke the World Record in Windsurfing on Production board twice on day two – and he improved his national Record to 48.38 knots!
The Female World Record in Windsurfing was broken twice by Zara Davis who obviously enjoys the news concept and the new “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” channel! With 44.19 knots she is also the fastest Female British sailor.
Lena Aylin Erdil has also learnt how to go fast in a few runs, breaking the Female Turkish Record several times during the past two days, reaching 41.53 knots.
Farrel O’Shea has expertly defended his colours by beating the UK Record twice, ending with 46.15 knots!
Patrick Diethelm who holds the Italian Record is a double Record Holder. Sailing under the flag of Switzerland this year, he broke the Swiss Record with 46.29 knots.
The French rider Cédric Bordes managed to sail the exact time of the previous Windsurfing Record showing 49.09 knots!
The German competitors are on track and produced excellent times, alternating the record position among them. Christian Bornemann broke the German record in windsurfing twice during the past two days, and he currently holds it at 43.93 knots while Dieter Gerichhausen reached 42.92 knots, holding this record for a time during the day. Christian Benzing from “Chris Benz watches” reached a personal best with 40.33 knots, not far behind his fellow countrymen.
The legendary Luderitz Speed channel
The new Luderitz Channel where the 2012 speed tentative will happen!
In 2010 the Luderitz Speed channel was dug adjacent to the water line, to the right of an area covered with vegetation. In 2012, it was moved inland and dug directly into the sandy soil so as to maximise the speed approach at the start. New speed records will surely fall.
Good luck to all competitors.
Antoine takes it all
Photo credit: mondial du vent
80 kiters on the starting line for the Orange Speed Crossing Pro Am but Antoine Albeau remains the man to beat. He takes all four heats in front of Bordes, Bringdal and Douglas.
More tomorrow…
Orange Speed Crossing Pro award ceremony
Congratulations to Rob and Charlotte for winning the Orange Speed Crossing Pro!
Rob was untouchable on the runs and won 3 out of four heats. He broke the 1998 Leucate speed record of 42.25 knots held by the windsurfer Jose Bahadour from Guadeloupe with 43.32 knots.
Rob Douglas, winner of the OSC Pro, in front of Anders Bringdal and Antoine Albeau (photo credit Jef Valet kite race.fr)
Charlotte Consorti, winner of the OSC Pro, in front of Sophie Routaboul (photo credit Jeff Valet kite race.fr)
Charlotte Consorti and Sophie Routaboul were the only two women competing in the OSC pro.
Charlotte took the lead from the start and won all 4 heats.
They will all be competing this weekend in the Orange Speed Crossing Pro AM in Leucate.
As for Seb, it looks like his race boards got misplaced and didn’t make it on time to Leucate. He (scored?) a downwind race board from Xelerator to competed with an ankle injury on the fourth day and was the first kiter to cross the finish line.
See the results here:
Orange Speed Crossing 4th Heat
Four innings were validated on the Orange Speed Crossing and Rob Douglas remains untouchable. Yet, behind him, windsurfers multiply the runs but that’s not good enough. The American is still the fastest. The day had started well for windsurfers.
From the start, the wind angle is most favorable to the windsurfers and they score the first 6 spots. After an hour into the heat, Antoine Albeau displays a nice 33.5 knots on the clock. Rob Douglas with 29 knots is the first kiter to cross the finish line.
Rob and Antoine (Photo credit Mondial du vent)
The kiters were able to make a come back as the wind turned and got stronger for about 20 min.
Sylvain Hoceini links run after run smoothly close behind Antoine. Rob Douglas finally cuts short any suspense by burying the competition with a remarkable time of 39.5 knots.
Kiters finish well in front of windsurfers:
1 Rob Douglas
2 Sylvain Hoceini
3 Jaime Douglas
4 Antoine Albeau (1er windsurf)
OSC overall results after 4 innings (57 participants):
1 Rob Douglas
2 Anders Bringdal
3 Antoine Albeau
5 Jaime Douglas
9 Morgan Douglas
10 Christophe Pringuenon
16 Sylvain Hoceini
17 Philippe Planas
20 Alex Caizergues
24 Benjamin Petit
25 Geoffrey Mascarel
26 Jean Yves Terrien
28 Bruno Dandine
29 Jochen Bock
30 Wolfran Reiners
31 Manu Taub
34 Chris Harduin
35 Jean Charles Paupardin
36 Jernej Privsek
37 Florent Gautier
38 Renaud Romain
40 Maxime Richard
41 Emmanuel Mogicato
42 Bill Lynch
44 Anthony Chaffron
45 Julien Taub
46 Sebastien Cattelan
47 Brock Collen
48 Sylvain Moret
Orange Speed Crossing Pro: Interim Results
Here are the interim results after the first 3 races of the OSC.
Overall standings after 3 races – Men
Overall standings after 3 races – women
Vas y Sophie!!! **** the team is cheering you on ****
Could Seb be back in the race?
On Tuesday, the organizer of the Mondial decided to make use of the light 20.25 knots of south east wind and put on the “Funny Race”. The Long Distance Race is an 8 km and back to the start. From the start, the windsurfers took the lead with Antoine Albeau and Cédric Bordes. The strong south east choppy conditions are not favorable to kite surfers.
Antoine Albeau crosses the finish line first leaving a gap between him, Ross Williams and Cédric Bordes
SEB CATTELAN with the Genetrix Origin and Xelerator board (photo Tisag)
Sébastien Cattelan takes the lead and is the first kitesurfer to cross the finish line in front of Rob Douglass and Sylvain Hoceini. He was riding a 12m Genetrix and the Xelerator 198×40 board.
Until now, Seb had not been able to compete due to his missing boards. We are glad to see him back in despite an injury to his ankle.
You can find out more re the board he is using here: http://www.xeleratorkiteboarding.com/
The strong Tramontane is announced again for tomorrow with a skipper’s meet at 8:00 am.
Alex Caizergues et Geoffrey Mascarel are out!
During the second heat, two of the top kite surfers got injured. Alex Caizergues injured his right knee and Geoffrey Mascarel his wrist! Rob Douglas is the only kitesurfer left facing the top windsurfers.
For now, no news re Seb Cattelan …
Orange Speed Crossing 3rd Heat
Today, the best times had been recorded in the early part of the day due to a declining Tramontane as the day wore on. 4 windsurfers finished in the top five but Rob took the lead again with the fastest time over 42 knots. In the absence of Alex Caizergues it was Geoffrey Mascarell who was the second kiter to finish.
Orange Speed Crossing 2nd Heat
Rob Douglas (42.5) winner of the second heat of the Orange Speed Crossing in front of Antoine Albeau (41.5)
We are sorry to hear that Sebastian Cattelan wasn’t able to take part in the last 2 races. “My racing gear is somewhere on an airport carousel between Maui airport and South Africa. I was able to borrow some equipment left and right, but it is not easy without my personal settings. Plus I’m cold, so for now I stay on the beach (smile).”
Alex Caizergues also had no chance today. He fell hard in the second inning and had to be evacuated by firefighters, having apparently suffered a knee sprain. He was in fourth place in this heat! This might compromise his season.
Charlotte Consorti consistently finished in the first half every time at the scratch, leaving behind about thirty men!
Anders Bringdal, who won the first round is 7th in this second round and falls back overall.
Heat 2 results:
1 Rob Douglas Kite
2 Antoine Albeau Wind
3 Cedric Bordes Wind
4 Alex Caizergues Kite
5 Geoffrey Kite Mascarell
Le mondial du vent 2012
Leucate, France will host the Mondial du Vent from April 7th to 15th 2012. The worldwide event was created in 1996. 16 years later, Leucate is still the first kitesurf and windsurf meeting in France and one of the most important international events in these disciplines.
see more here: http://www.mondial-du-vent.com/home.php
ORANGE SPEED CROSSING Pro: 7 to 12 April
For the fourth consecutive year, the Mondial du Vent et Orange have organized the Orange Speed Crossing in Leucate from 7 to 15 April for the 16th edition of the Mondial du Vent. A unique opportunity to watch the world’s best athletes of kiteboarding and windsurfing go head to head on speed runs.
A total of 30 professional athletes including kitesurfer Rob Douglas (world speed record holder), Alexandre Caizergues (3 times world speed holder), Sebastien Cattelan (50 and 55 knot recordbreaker) and windsurfers Antoine Albeau (speed and slalom windsurfer world champion) and Anders Bringdal, will participate in this unique event. Charlotte Consorti and Sophie Routaboul will also compete to see who is the fastest woman on the water.
In 2011, kitesurfers proved to be fastest. Will the windsurfers take the speed record back this year?
As of now, here is the list of the riders in the Orange Speed Crossing.
10 riders will compete using Genetrix kites
| Kitesurf | Windsurf |
|---|---|
1- Anthony CHAFFRON  2- Wolfram REINERS  3- Alex CAIZERGUES 4- Rob DOUGLAS  5- Geoffrey MASCAREL 6- Jamie DOUGLAS 7- Morgan DOUGLAS 8- Manu TAUB 9- Damien LEROY 10- Brock CALLEN 11- Sébastien CATTELAN 12- Chris HARDUIN 13- Christophe PRIN-GUENON 14- Jean-Charles PAUPARDIN 15- Maxime RICHARD 16- Bill LYNCH 17- Sylvain HOCEINI 18- Florent GAUTIER 19- Romain RENAUD 20- Emmanuel MOGICATO 21- Sylvain MORET 22- Charlotte CONSORTI 23- Sophie ROUTABOUL 24- Julien TAUB 25- Jean-Yves TERRIEN 26- Bruno DANDINE 27- Jernej PRIVSEK  |
1- Thomas GAUDIOT 2- Nick VARDALACHOS  3- Gauthier BOURGEOIS 4- Antoine ALBEAU 5- Cyril MOUSSILMANI 6- Benoit MOUSSILMANI 7- Sylvain MOUSSILMANI 8- Anders BRINGDAL  9- Olivier BERNARD 10- Cédric BORDES 11- Andrea BALDINI  12- Christophe RICHAUD 13- Xavier JOLY 14- Pascal BOULANGER 15- Cyril MICHEL 16- Christophe FIORENTINI 17- Gilles PAREDES 18- Valérie GHIBAUDO 19- Karin YAGGI  20- Romain DONADA 21- Alain MONTAUZOU 22- Damien NICO 23- Jacques VAN DER HOUT  |
