The "big 3" of the speedsailing world have all broken the 40 knot barrier at Walvis Bay and Dave White was close behind in 4th with 39.7 knots.
It took until the penultimate day of competition for this amazing venue to deliver the goods
In around 25 knots of wind one round was completed today, with Finian Maynard (BVI, F2) snatching the victory with a top speed of 41.88 knots ahead of Patrik Diethelm (ITA, F2, North) and Bjorn Dunkerbeck (AND, T1, North).
The ladies leg was won in close racing by Karin Jaggi (SUI, F2, North) in front of Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA, T1) and Zara Davis (GBR, T1).
With Finian winning both Fuerteventura and Walvis Bay it means he takes the overall official speedsailing title for the year.
The production title was also won by Karin Jaggi on the womens side, in the mens fleet F2-Shaper Patrik Diethelm (ITA, F2, North) was able to win the title on his own boards.
The manufacturers world championship titles go to F2 and North. The nations ranking is led by France in front of Germany and Great Britain.
Male Results
| Rank |
Sail |
Name |
Nat |
Equipment |
Average |
Run 1 |
Run 2 |
| 1 |
1 |
Finian Maynard |
BVI |
F2, Deboichet |
41,805 |
41,88 |
41,73 |
| 2 |
120 |
Patrik Diethelm |
ITA |
F2, North Netsurfing Sport |
40,584 |
41,03 |
40,14 |
| 3 |
11 |
Bjorn Dunkerbeck |
AND |
T1, North Redbull, VW |
40,563 |
40,61 |
40,51 |
| 4 |
63 |
Dave White |
GBR |
O'Neill, Garmin |
39,735 |
39,85 |
39,62 |
| 5 |
74 |
Chris Lockwood |
AUS |
|
39,515 |
40,11 |
38,92 |
Female Results
| Rank |
Sail |
Name |
Nat |
Equipment |
Average |
Run 1 |
Run 2 |
| 1 |
14 |
Karin Jaggi |
SUI |
F2, North Spinout, O'Neill, |
35,670 |
35,97 |
35,37 |
| 2 |
444 |
Valerie Ghibaudo |
FRA |
T1 DaKine, Gasoil, Sunnbi |
35,375 |
35,44 |
35,31 |
| 3 |
731 |
Zara Davis |
GBR |
T1 Maui Jim, DaKine, Waln |
34,580 |
35,26 |
33,90 |
Kite Results
| Rank |
Sail |
Name |
Nat |
Equipment |
Average |
Run 1 |
Run 2 |
| 1 |
505 |
Alexandre Caizergues |
FRA |
F1, Ion, DaKine, Grab |
38,150 |
38,24 |
38,06 |
| 2 |
504 |
Dirk Hanel |
GER |
North Kiteboarding, Fanat |
37,655 |
38,27 |
37,04 |
| 3 |
508 |
Joan Henaff |
NCD |
JHK, Nouvelle Caledonic B |
36,905 |
36,96 |
36,85 |
So with the official Walvis Bay 2006 event over the sailors are now staying on in Namibia for another month to try and break the 50 knot barrier.
Thanks to the Australian Simon McKeon and his high-tech vessel Yellow Pages Endeavour, the Speed Sailing Record over the distance of 500m was one of the hardest to break records for the past 12 years, until Finian Maynard set a new mark with his fantastic speed of 48.70 knots, on the 10.04.2005 at the canal in St. Maries de la Mer.
From the 26th of October until the 23rd of November, 20 riders from all around the world, Windsurfers as well as Kitesurfers, will chase this record and the elusive 50 knot mark, which is THE magical number in speed sailing all around the world.
Namibia offers to us perfect speed venues. A sandbar, about two kilometers long, only a few centimeters above water line. Strong thermal winds, perfectly offshore. And the flattest water you have ever seen.
Both 500m as well as the nautical mile course are perfectly prepared to see the fastest men and women go for new records. As the 500m course might be not broad enough on several windy days, we are working on a system to give the course an extra 20° angle and still keep the water flat. A few meters to the outside might give us the perfect conditions.
And for the very special days Walvis Bay has a a special course so we are likely to see something very special indeed - if the conditions are right !
Sailors include 35 time world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, besides British Virgin Islands Finian Maynard the one most of all chasing the 50 knots mark.
Finian Maynard in winning mode at Walvis Bay 2006
Bjorn Dunkerbeck at Walvis Bay 2006
Another big guy is also competing in Namibia, UK's very own Production Board World Record holder Dave White, trying to improve his record of 44.03 knots from the french trench with new equipment. Also from England, Zara Davis is challenging the british as well as the womens world record.
The locals are strongly represented of course, including African Record holder Hennie Bredenkamp and the Dutch Womens Record holder Maaike Kallenborn.The Italians will also try with a team of two to break Patrik Diethelms rekord from last years speedweek event. Alessandro Comerlati and F2 Speed Challenge winner John Benamati are the names to keep in mind.
Two late entries complete the field, former kitespeed record holder Manu Taub from France and the winner of this years Weymouth Speed Week, kitesurfer Nigel Bowley from Great Britain.
Urs Sonntag at full speed
Current Records:
Outright World Record 500m Men: Finian Maynard, BVI at 48.70 knots
Outright World Record 500m Women: Karin Jaggi, SUI at 41.25 knots
Outright World Record Nautical Mile Men: Finian Maynard, BVI, at 39.97 knots
Outright World Record Nautical Mile Women: Valerie Ghibaudo, FRA, at 33.69 knots
Kite World Record 500m Men: Olaf Marting, NAM, at 41.79 knots
Kite World Record Nautical Mile Men: Dirk Hanel, GER, at 35.44 knots
Open Water Record 500m Men: Bjorn Dunkerbeck at 44.35 knots
Open Water Record 500m Women: Babette Coquelle at 40.05 knots
Production Board Record 500m Men: Dave White at 44.03 knots
Production Board Record 500m Women: n/a
Just to prove that the venue is up to the job, co-organizer Juergen Geiger clocked a 47.3 knot top speed test run yesterday, with an average of around 44 knots!
More info: www.50-knots.com
