| Luderitz Speed Challenge 2011 |
|
See below for updates 13 December 2011 A lot was learnt from the trials this year, and these lessons will be put to good use for the 2012 event. Canal refinements helped improve the starting speeds, reduce the chop and improve the safety. 5 National records were set following these improvements (South Africa - Taro, Namibia - Stefan, Sweden - Anders, Germany - Wolfram and Angola - Humberto). The top speed was 58.7 knots and the best average just shy of the world record. Sophie Routaboul also recorded the fastest Ladies GPS speed for 2011 (52 knot peak, 47.61 500m ave) : http://www.gps-kitesurfing.com/?mnu=user&val=38648&uid=320 The advantage of the new location is that the course won't get damaged during Spring tides; which means that it can be refined over time until the best possible water state is achieved, thereby allowing for faster speeds and bringing the 60 knot target ever closer. 4 November 2011 The LUDERITZ SPEED CHALLENGE 2011 is the beginning of a great future for the windsurfing community. Sébastien Cattelan and Sophie Routaboul planned to build a new playground for windsurfers since last year; and the new canal is proving to be the answer in this regard. The “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” changed kite speed forever in 2007 by raising the bar to new heights, now it’s time for windsurfers. We'd like nothing better than for 3 craft, namely kitesurfers, windsurfers and hydrofoil boats (which have battled for years), to compete on the same course with the right conditions for a close contest. Competing in a void devalues the achievement, so the challenge aims to create the perfect course for multiple disciplines thereby making it a hotly contested affair. Sébastien knows that he can reach 60 knots in kitesurfing, it’s the next aim, but for him windsurfing still needs to express itself. He wants to create the right conditions for them to push the limits before reaching his own goal. Positive energy is needed to manage this adventure, and an interesting challenge lies ahead for us to discover how best to achieve this. We need to share ideas and opinions with people who have different experience with the sea so we can collaboratively create the ideal run. No place in the World has been witness to performances such as these seen in Luderitz. Sébastien and Sophie have worked for 4 years to make 55 knots possible. This work now needs to be leveraged to the benefit of the windsurfers, but their experience and contributions are needed to make this possible. The new canal has proved to be more beneficial for windsurfers than for kitesurfers thus far, but some options still remain to improve this for both disciplines and the strong wind is still on the way … Despite the organisers treating this year as a test for the new canal (which was dug just before the start), the results look very promising thus far and windsurfing legend, Anders Bringdal, managed to reach truly impressive speeds on his first day. He had a 50.72 Vmax, which is a first in windsurfing history. He took the opportunity and joined the test at the last minute as the windsurfing consultant. People from all over the World are now watching. Further improvements will be made based on the analysis from the training sessions, drawing ever close to record speed. Kite surfing records and performances will follow, step by step the dream of this Team has been realised over the past 5 years, and the much improved run in the ideal location will usher in a new era in speed sailing and become the perfect platform for international and outright records. Sponsors who choose to be part of this will play a pivotal role in shaping sailing history.
3 November 2011 The wind lived up to expectations and blew super strong on Monday (up to 55 knots), this created too much chop towards the end of the course though, so it was difficult to record fast speeds.Anders Bringdal from Sweden was the exception, and proved that the canal works beautifully for windsurfers when he set some of the fastest times ever recorded on his first day. Tuesday was better despite there being less wind as the water state was flatter. So a lot of lessons were learnt and action is being taken to correct this. More news to follow soon.
With a forecast like this, we expect it to blow 40-50 knots.  26 October 2011 Slightly stronger wind over the past 2 days, but still not enough.This wind cycle is almost over, and the wind will subside towards Saturday; the good news is that the next wind cycle looks short but powerful, and should yield record conditions.
The riders used today as a training day for when the strong wind arrives, which looks like sometime next week. We're also waiting for the stronger wind before trying a windsurfer. 23 October 2011 Today was a light wind day (in the 20's), but it was a great introduction for the riders to the canal.The finishing area is wide and long, and instils the confidence needed to cross the finish at full speed. The depth is more than adequate, and we'll test out windsurfers on it within a few days time. The wind was very gusty today, and the Genetrix kites helped prevent unnecessary accidents due to unforeseen gusts and lulls mid-run. They handle gusts like no other and have the biggest depower range, which makes them ideal for Luderitz. The best average speed was 45 knots, with peaks touching 50. The wind is expected to blow stronger tomorrow, so let's see what speeds the new canal can yield.
La Tentative de Record du Monde de Vitesse à la Voile The World Record Attempt in Speed Sailing  Du 20 Octobre au 17 Novembre 2011 From the 20th of October to the 17th of November 2011
Les organisateurs Sophie Routaboul et Sébastien Cattelan, qui innovent sans cesse afin de repousser les limites encore plus loin, viennent tout juste d’obtenir les autorisations nécessaires au creusage d’un nouveau canal en dehors de la baie, qui était alors utilisée, et ainsi tenter de franchir la barrière des 60 nœuds (de moyenne sur 500m). Ce sera donc 115km/h (de moyenne sur 500m) qu’il faudra atteindre. L’année précédente, le célèbre bateau hydrofoil « L‘Hydroptère » détenait le record absolu avec 51,36 nœuds-95 km/h (de moyenne sur 500m), et fût détrôné lors du « Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2010 » par les kitesurfers établissant le record du monde de vitesse à la voile à : 55,65 nœuds, soit 103 km/h (de moyenne sur 500m). La difficulté de ce projet a amené ces 2 passionnés de sports extrêmes à décider en 1er lieu tester officiellement le nouveau canal dont la construction vient à peine de s’achever avant de pouvoir engendrer leur responsabilité d’organisateurs dans le prochain événement 2012 où de nombreux compétiteurs internationaux seront invités. Les performances, devenues désormais très élevées, engendrent un souci organisationnel incontestable. Les conséquences de cette Tentative reconnue sont très étendues. Cet événement concentre à la fois un aspect environnemental avec le résultat de l’efficacité de l’énergie éolienne, un attrait humanitaire et touristique avec la mise en avant d’un pays africain qui est la Namibie, et un aspect commercial, où l’industrie du kitesurf, sport encore très jeune, s’est vu être propulsé sur le devant de la scène, devenant l’engin le plus rapide sur l’eau. Ce pari incroyable et osé leur permettra-t-il de proposer un nouveau terrain de jeu à la communauté des windsurfers et ainsi, accéder aux célèbres 50 nœuds et + ? Les résultats sont là : depuis 4 ans, tout a été mis en œuvre pour pouvoir augmenter le potentiel de cet endroit incroyable et ainsi perpétrer une incessante ascension des records de vitesse. Réponse entre le 20 octobre et le 17 novembre 2011, dates de l’événement, où les performances seront effectués en kitesurf et en windsurf… avec le soutien des sponsors LM Wind Power, Genetrix et de son Team, SunPass Cream, Le Cabinet Chaffron Assurances et Kitaddict, ainsi que la communauté de Lüderitz.  The « Lüderitz Speed Challenge” has been held in Namibia since 2007, and is a World Record Attempt in Speed Sailing that has produced more than 40 World & National Records to date.The organisers, Sophie Routaboul and Sébastien Cattelan have constantly innovated in their attempt to push the limits, and have recently obtained authorisation to dig a new channel away from the Second Lagoon shoreline, which has been used thus far. This is necessary to make it possible to break the 60 knot barrier (over 500m), which is the new challenge (115km/h under sail). This has been a large scale and difficult project to undertake, which made these two driven extreme sports enthusiasts decide to officially test the newly built channel before taking on the responsibility of organising a fully-fledged event. A full scale event is planned for 2012 where numerous international competitors will be invited. The consequences of this recognised official record attempt are far reaching. This event combines an environmental aspect together with the efficiency of wind power, and the human, tourism and commercial aspects, while bringing to the front stage an African country: Namibia. Will this incredible and daring feat allow them to beckon in the dawn of a new playground for the windsurfing community, and give them access to the exclusive 50+ knot club? The answer will be revealed between 20th October and 17th November 2011, which are the dates of the event during which windsurfing and kitesurfing performances will be done…. with the kind support of the sponsors : LM Wind Power, Genetrix and his Team, SunPass Cream, The agency Chaffron Insurance, Kitaddict and the Lüderitz Community. ESF Events - Genetrix Web : www.luderitz-speed.com Tel : 00264 (0) 817 44 64 69 – Namibia (20 October - 17 November 2011) |
Après les succès couronnés de + de 40 Records Mondiaux et Nationaux, le « Lüderitz Speed Challenge », Tentative de Record du Monde de Vitesse à la voile qui a lieu en Namibie depuis 2007 fait encore parler de lui.