So close to the world record …!
Race day opened at 1pm
Today, 31st of October, predictions have been accurate and wind came from early morning. Conditions were strong and at times challenging, with 30-35 knots average wind with much stronger gusts up to 55 knots.
Antoine Albeau (France) and World Champion did his first run at 2pm and quickly achieved 49 knots a couple of times. He was then joined by Patrik Diethelm (Italy) and Farrel O’ Shea (UK) and Patrik achieved 50 knots after only a few runs.
Karin Jaggi (Suisse) then followed the men and beat her own ladies Swiss record on her very first run. Following her run, the wind angle became better and better and all riders grew more and more excited – real anticipation was in the air!
Today, 31 October 2015, proved the record breaking day of the 2015 event!
Karin Jaggi smashed her Swiss record no less than 4 times today: from 42.5 kts up to 44.92 kts (was 41.25 kts before her 1st participation to the Lüderitz Speed Challenge). She is now 0.91 kts far from the Female World record in Windsurfing!
Antoine Albeau achieved an amazing 25 runs today. 11 over 49 knots, 5 over 50 kts and 4 over 51 knots ending with the best speed of the day: 51.66 kts, just 0.39 kts of his own World Record. With Karin Jaggi, 3 other National Records were smashed today!
British Record Holder Farrel O’Shea set up 2 new GB record with 48.84 kts and then 49.28 kts (was 48.82 kts)! Christian Bornemann (Germany) smashed his German National Record with an amazing 50.20 knots. (was 48.82 kts)
Croatian Record Holder Boris Vujasinovic (who resides in the USA) improved his country’s national record twice today, first with 46.66 kts and then 46.84kts (was 46.51 kts)
Numerous Personal Bests were also achieved:
Manfred Merle (Germany) with a PB of 47.86 kts achieved 48.50kts. Christophe Richaud (France) arrived this year with his PB of 46.55 kts from last year and beat it on his 1st day with 46.66 kts and improving it on each run today (4 times) until achieving 49.28kts! For his 1st participation, French windsurfer Laurent Fesquet reached an impressive 45.11 kts, improving it 3 times today; 46.55 kts, 47.79 kts and 48.45 kts.
Thierry Bielak (France) who used to hold the Ultimate World Record in the 90’s with 45.34 kts improved his best speed on 2014: 48.02 kts and did it again 3 times ending up with 49.94 kts today! Jean Michel Cloarec (France) achieved 48.38 kts (was 48.33 kts from last year)
After such exhilarating day of PBs and records, tomorrow’s forecast looks promising and the world record is definitely within reach!
We see some riders leaving today whilst other well-known riders join the event: A warm welcome to Raffaello Gardelli, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Alberto Possati, Andrew Redfern, Roger Örnvang, Erik Beale, Martyn Ogier and Francesco D’Urso.
This highly exciting week has pushed performance levels to a high standard and Week 5 performances depend on forthcoming winds!
