The Luderitz Speed Challenge 2010 is being held October 4 to 31 in Luderitz,
Namibia, just over 1100 miles north of Cape Town, SA along the western
African continent. This is the 4th edition of the event, which is held under
the scrutiny of the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) and the
International Sailing Federation (ISAF). With a custom canal approximately
10m wide and 50-100cm deep along the shoreline, the challenge is to see who
will set the fastest average speed over a 500-meter distance. Here is the
latest update:
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(October 15, 2010) – The expected strong winds were delivered today, which
led to four more National records to be broken. High tide was at 9.30 am so
it was an early start for everyone. Racing began at 9:00 am, and conditions
were good in late morning but by afternoon the tide had receded and the
strip had to be closed as the WSSRC deemed it to be too shallow. The strip
opened again late in the afternoon at around 6:00 pm, however, the wind had
dropped by then. The strip has remained record free since Friday as light
winds are expected to remain through Tuesday.
The four new National records (yet to ratified by WSSRC) are:
Rob Douglas – USA, 52.58 knots
Taro Niehaus – South Africa, 50.62 knots
Marc Avella – Spain, 48.55 knots
Jernej Privsek – Slovenia, 46.22 knots.
The time set by Douglas is the second fastest time yet set, with Alex
Caizergues (FRA) remaining the overall leader after his run on October 12,
2010 of 54.10 knots. Caizergues time bested the current Outright World Speed
Sailing Record set by skipper Alain Thebault (FRA) on the foiling trimaran
Hydroptere, which in 2009 set a speed of 51.36 knots in Hyeres, France.
Luderitz Speed Challenge: http://www.luderitz-speed.com
World Sailing Speed Record Council: http://www.sailspeedrecords.com