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Luderitz Speed Challenge : New records broken again!

The world record set by Alexander Caizergues last Saturday is safe. Rob Douglas came within a hair of snatching back his number one spot with his run today of 50.54 (93.59kph) knots, just .03 knots off Caizergues' 50.57 (93.65kph).

Together with Sebastien Cattelan's third placed result today of 50.52 knots, the top three contenders are separated by only 0.05 knots. From wondering if someone would break the "50 knot barrier" at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2008, we now how three sailors well clear of it.

There were several other fantastic results today. This morning it seemed like it might be a washout, with low water and light wind, when suddenly it all turned on in the space of ten minutes.

Taro Niehaus set a new South Africa and Africa outright record of 48.47 knots, and Rolf van der Vlugt re-broke the Dutch outright record with 46.72 knots.

Charlotte Consorti rebroke the outright French women's record with her run of 44.74 knots, and Katja Roose rebroke her Dutch outright women's record with 39. 58.

Today was a warm-up for Thursday, where forecasts are for even stronger winds, with a higher tide. With the top spot so tight, and the sailors hungry for the record, we expect them to pull out all the stops on the water tomorrow.

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