Luderitz Speed Challenge 2012

Here is a nice clip produced by Eric Bellande of the 2012 Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia.

The Luderitz Speed Challenge is all done, with so many record Being broken and incredible times posted! Antoine Albeau broke the World Record eight times over the competition’s four weeks period, ending with the fastest time of 52.05 knots, setting the new World record. Albeau was joined in making history by the fastest female of the event, Zara Davis of Britain, who posted a windsurfing world record speed of 45.83 knots (made on Production board).

12 national multi-discipline records were broken during the course of the event, which is incredible when one considers that 13 nations were represented. The records were as follows :

• SWEDEN: Anders Bringdal: 51.45 kts (95.3 kph) which is also the World Record on Production Board.
• NETHERLANDS: Jurjen Van Der Noord: 51.26 kts (94.9 kph)
• SWITZERLAND: Patrick Diethelm : 50.49 kts (93.5 kph) and then Bjorn Dunkerbeck: 51.09 kts (94.6 kph)
• GREECE: Nick Vardalachos: 50.56 kts (93.6 kph)
• GERMANY: Christian Bornemann: 46.75 kts (86.5 kph)
• UNITED KINGDOM: Farrel O’Shea: 48.82 kts (90.4 kph)
• FEMALE UNITED KINGDOM: Zara Davis: 45.83 kts (84.8 kph)
• FEMALE TURKISH: Lena Erdil: 45.74 kts (84.7 kph)
• ITALIAN: Alberto Possati: 44.47 kts (82.3 kph)
• CROATIAN: Boris Vujasinovic: 44.47 kts (82.3 kph)
• UKRAINIAN: Alexander Goncharov: 40.95 kts (75.8 kph)

All in all seven riders hailing from five different countries went over  50 knots. These were:

• FRANCE: ANTOINE ALBEAU (52.05kts) and CEDRIC BORDES (50.23kts)
• SWEDEN: ANDERS BRINGDAL (51.45 kts)
• NETHERLANDS: JURJEN VAN DER NOORD (51.26 kts)
• SWITZERLAND: BJORN DUNKERBECK (51.09 kts) and PATRICK DIETHELM (50.49 kts)
• GREECE: NICK VARDALACHOS (50.56 kts)

These unprecedented performances were made possible not only by the incredible skill and athleticism of each contestant but also by their belief in the event and their willingness to give of their experience to improve the sailing conditions. All the windsurfers agree that this year’s results can definitely be improved, and who wouldn’t, when you consider A.Albeau went three knots faster than he did in 2008, in less wind! The riders are presently leaving Namibia with ideas for modifying their gear in order to return for more action in stronger winds in 2013.