Figures the Walvis Bay speed event finishes just as the strongest winds arrive today. However on the trip south to the Cape, Luderitz should be going off with 35 knot winds due. www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=namibia&program=nww3BW1&grb=nww3&latitude=-27.0&longitude=15.0&zone=1&units=e The attempt on the 500m record begins there this week with kiters and windsurfers having a go. Hopefully slowboat will hit it as conditions go off. luderitz-speed.com/

Roo

So this is seperate to the Walvis bay event? And Clockwood is there?

Roo is there a website relating to the speed week? There was last year but I've lost the link.
Also Nebs, I've been watching the Sailrocket progress over the last 6 months or so and if the speeds of wind come through like Roo is saying they won't even take the thing out on the water. It's strictly a 20-25 knots no more kinda contraption. That is of course unless they've sorted out the problems that have been dogging them for a while now and it's magically a much more stable and predictable device.

luderitz-speed.com/ You can find all the details there of the month long speed record attempt. All the details from the Walvis bay Speedweek are here www.speedweek.co.za
Chris dropped in to Luderitz Bay on the way up to Walvis, hopefully he will pop in on the way back down to Capetown.

Roo

Chris is on his way home. Not staying for the record attempts.

Here is Chris's comment: "Finian is there right now. He went in low tide, wiped out on first run and snapped his fin clean off. Kiters are doing 48s"

Where did you read this Roo?

hey Roo that Luderit website you put up has gone cactus. Any idea what's happened? Do you know another one by any chance? I'd love to keep up to date with it but I can't find any info anywhere now. Have you heard if anyone has posted any runs yet?

Just in for Sunday,

Seb Cattelan - NEW WR Kite 500m- 46.71 kts
Manu Taub - PB - 46.08 kts
Alex Caizergues - PB - 45.29
Jerome Billa - PB - 44.41 kts
Taro Neihuis - Not There

Sjoukje Bredenkamp NEW WR Kite women 500m- 39.75 kts!

Subject to ratification by WSSRC.

You can keep up to date here luderitz-speed.blogspot.com

Roo

Wooohooo!!! Stoked for Seb. He can windsurf too- I lent him my rig at Walvis. Interesting at Luderitz when I was there Hennie and I were struggling to get to 40kts peak in 15-22kts wind on windsurfers, but Hennie was pulling 44 on his kite. Interesting...

according to the old website it tends to blow 4 days in a row so is there anychance there could be some more quick runs posted today?

Forecast is for wind to drop again, another chance towards the end of the week. You can see the forecast for the next few days here: www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=namibia&program=nww3BW1&grb=nww3&latitude=-27.0&longitude=15.0&zone=1&units=e

Roo

Roo, have they booked a month with the wssrc at Luderitz?

Slowie, how was Thailand? Looks like Sandy will have some decent wind though the direction may not be optimal.

Details of Sebs session, jeeze he can get moving
http://50knots.xs4all.nl/gps-kitesurfing/gps.asp?mnu=user&val=255&uid=47

Date : Sunday, September 23, 2007
Spot : Laguna 2, Luderitz, Namibia
Board : Custom xelerator
Kite : Genetrix Hydra 10.0
Fin : Home made xelerator 5
Average speed : 48.80 knots (49.9 49.2 49.0 48.3 47.6)
Max. GPS (display) : 52.0 knots
Max. 2 sec. (software) : 52.5 knots
100 m run : 51.9 knots
250 m run : 49.9 knots
500 m run : 47.7 knots
Nautical mile : 19.0 knots
Windspeed : 35 knots
Windgusts : 40 knots
Remarks : Poes a la poes - World record Run The water is about 2ft to 10cm deep along the run. Chop in the middle and and upwind start (also choppy) Not bad for crappy conditions. We look forward to a day of liquid ice :-) $eb



Thats one quick Teabag

52.5 knots max!!!!!! Hoooooeeeeeee that is moving

It looks like the Catman reeled off a brace of quick runs. Look at his 10s speeds .. 49.9 49.2 49.0 48.3 47.6

Smoking!!!

PS I notice the "official" speed was 46.71. So I guess the best gps 500m didn't coincide with the official 500m course.

The WSSRC only allows private record attempts for a maximum of 28 days at a time. The official observer is available for 7 days during that period and any extra time is charged at a set rate. So far they have used up 4 of their allotted days. I'm sure if the boys feel they will break the world record they will not hesitate to buy extra time. This weekend looks good with tides and wind setting up nicely.

Roo

Mega forecast for this weekend and high tide to boot. Hennie will be running with his windsurfing gear, will be interesting to see how he compares with the teabaggers. Looks like Saturday should be huge, stay tuned for more.

Sunday looks to be huge here as well.

why aren't guys like Finian and Antoine and Bjorn at this event? Surely with conditions like this they'd be itching to get out!

Finny popped down for a look after the Walvis Bay event. He had a massive crash as the water is quite shallow. The run isn't quite long enough for a good 500 on a board, the kiters can run in shallower water. We'll see how Hennie goes on Saturday.