Kiters Exceed 55 Knots As Records Tumble In Luderitz
Sebastien Cattelan was the first to 55 knots and is the new speed sailing record holder of France and Europe with a speed of 55.49 knots (102.6 km/hr).
His new record was shortlived as just 60 minutes later Rob Douglas (USA) set an ever faster speed of 55.65 knots.
Alex Caizergues narrowly missed the 55 knot mark, posting the third fastest speed of the day at 54.93 knots.
Two French girls battled it out for the fastest women's speed. Charlotte Consorti had a great start and posted 48.5 knots. She was followed 30 minutes later by Sophie Routboul with 48.64 knots. Consorti went out again and set a new French and European Women's Record of 50.43 knots.
Routaboul was close on her heels but only did two runs as she had a broken hand from crashing the previous week. Her best speed was 48.64 knots.
The wind hit 45 knots and the Organization decided to create a wall of sand at the end of the run to retain the water level to the minimum depth of 18cm as required by the WSSRC. Sebastien Cattelan had attempted to do this two weeks previously on a day of extremely strong winds, but had faced stiff opposition from certain competitors who forced him to re-open the channel and as a result the water level dropped to below the required 18cm and the race had to be abandoned. It appears that only now, in the last week of the event, do competitors realize the benefits of his foresight.
Two more Frenchmen managed to go over 50 knots - Sebastien Salerno with 54,28 knots and Sylvain Hoceini with 52,90 knots.
Taro Niehaus who held the previous South African record of 50.60 managed 50,59 knots.
Other records set on Day 10 of the event:
South Africa - Basil Cambanis: 50,75 knots
Solvinia - Jernej Privsek: 46.60 knots
