The Luderitz canal is open and speeds are being recorded. A2 with a top 500m speed of 47.05 knots today. Forecast for tomorrow looking epic with up to 50 knots of wind forecast. Weekend also looking good.

I would've gone, but for the fact that I'm a pussy

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elmo said..
I would've gone, but for the fact that I'm a pussy

You're not a pussy mate, yer a muppet!

Yep

Wednesday November 8th, wind never filled in to forecast levels. A2 increased his speed today to 48.05 knots over 500m. www.gps-speed.com/LSC2023/AutoUpdateGPS.php

Sunday next big day for wind. wx.iwindsurf.com/spot/86416

Wasn't A2 developing an aerodynamic suit and strange fins a while back . What happened there.?

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Imax1 said..
Wasn't A2 developing an aerodynamic suit and strange fins a while back . What happened there.?

He has quite a few goodies with him in Luderitz but hasn't taken them out yet. Wait until it looks like record conditions and he'll be playing with all the good toys!

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Roo said..

Imax1 said..
Wasn't A2 developing an aerodynamic suit and strange fins a while back . What happened there.?

He has quite a few goodies with him in Luderitz but hasn't taken them out yet. Wait until it looks like record conditions and he'll be playing with all the good toys!

Mabee he could squeeze his way into Cathy Freemans old running suit.

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Roo said..

Imax1 said..
Wasn't A2 developing an aerodynamic suit and strange fins a while back . What happened there.?

He has quite a few goodies with him in Luderitz but hasn't taken them out yet. Wait until it looks like record conditions and he'll be playing with all the good toys!

For a second I was thinking his zephir project was a flop, and he is just using the same gear as always.

Im interested to see what he comes out with

49.56 knots for the 500m today. Gunnar Asmussen was the fastest, wind came in late and will blow all night. Tomorrow looks like the first day with potential for 50 knot runs. A2 took the day off today, and a few more speedsailors started arriving in Luderitz ready for the big blow.
www.gps-speed.com/LSC2023/AutoUpdateGPS.php

Angle was good early today and then it got very gusty. First 50 knot 500m run of the event goes to Gunnar Asmussen with a 50.97 run. A2 was only in the 48 knot range. Wind eases up on Monday so Diaz Point will be the location of choice until next weekend.

L?deritz speed course finally opened after a 10 day lull in the wind. A2 was fastest with a 500m time of 48.93 knots with Gunnar Asmussen a fraction slower at 48.92 knots. www.gps-speed.com/LSC2023/AutoUpdateGPS.php

Forecast for the next 6 days is windy but record breaking conditions aren't expected until maybe Wednesday wx.iwindsurf.com/spot/86416

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Roo said..
L?deritz speed course finally opened after a 10 day lull in the wind. A2 was fastest with a 500m time of 48.93 knots with Gunnar Asmussen a fraction slower at 48.92 knots. www.gps-speed.com/LSC2023/AutoUpdateGPS.php

Forecast for the next 6 days is windy but record breaking conditions aren't expected until maybe Wednesday wx.iwindsurf.com/spot/86416

Thanks for the updates Roo

One of the reasons A2 hasn't gone over 50 knots for the 500m was a bad fall he had over 10 days ago and is slowly recovering.

Here's the full story: A2 Yes, everything went well at the beginning, I was able to test masts developed with Nautix. I also tested many combinations of equipment, also changing the boards, fins, etc. The 2nd day , the wind was stronger, I sailed with ballast. During my first run , just after passing the final camera, when you straighten up and go up a little to slow down, I brushed the windward side of the bank. It threw me off balance and I let myself slide forward. The problem is that there isn't much water in the canal this year and during the first impact , I landed in not even 30 cm of water! So I hit the ground with a nice impact to my ribs and the back of my back. I got over it, I didn't really have any pain. I felt it hit but it was okay. It was the 1st run , I continued my day until the evening. But during the night, it got complicated because I started to have difficulty urinating and in the morning, I realized that the little I could urinate was blood! I went straight to the doctor. I did lots of tests, x-rays of the pelvis, ribs, ultrasound of the bladder, kidneys, etc. We looked at the stomach, the intestines and there was nothing. I took treatment, was able to sleep a little and started urinating properly. But the next day, the pain in my back was really too bad, worse than the day before. I went back to the doctor and took pain medication. The next day, I was in even more pain. I had x-rays and ultrasounds done again because the rib fractures are more visible a few days later sometimes. And still nothing! It is assumed to be a large internal hematoma. In the meantime, there had been no wind. On Sunday, there were interesting weather forecasts, I prepared well but, from the first run , the pain was too strong in my back. I tried a 2nd run but I was at 47, 48 knots, without really getting to the edge. I told myself it was dead. Since then, we are at the beginning of the week and the pain is still there. It's not great even if it's a rather calm week ahead. For me, it's not worse, it will help me get better. I'm obviously disappointed but that's how it is. I hope it will get better. There are still 2 weeks left and I hope that the conditions will return and that my back will finally feel better, which seems to be the case for the last 24 hours!

Day 8 on the L?deritz speed course. Not much change in 500m times over yesterday. A2 (186 cm tall, 99 kg weight) with 48.97 knots and Gunnar Asmussen (186 cm, 97 kg) on 48.89. Jim Crossley fastest of the normal size speedsailors (177 cm, 93 kg) not far behind on 47.54 knots for the 500m.

Great chat on windsurfing.tv with Ben Proffitt talking speed with Antoine Albeau.

Thanks Kean, its a great chat. A2, what a legend.

Quiet day 9 in Luderitz, top speed of 44.59 knots by A2. Only 5 speedsailors in action today. Tuesday looks to be the next good blow coming through.

Fastest gear so far this year the new Mach 7 Severne 5.2 and Neil Pryde EVO XIV 5.3.

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Roo said..
Quiet day 9 in Luderitz, top speed of 44.59 knots by A2. Only 5 speedsailors in action today. Tuesday looks to be the next good blow coming through.

Fastest gear so far this year the new Mach 7 Severne 5.2 and Neil Pryde EVO XIV 5.3.

I appreciate these updates Roo

A2 at 47.68 knots for the 500m today. Jim Crossley at 45.06. Wind didn't come in until late, fastest runs just before 5:00 PM.

Just because they are old doesn't mean they're slow. A2 yesterday testing out one of his old speedsails he used in an earlier trip to Luderitz. (Photo credit to Jim Crossley)

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Roo said..
Day 8 on the L?deritz speed course. Not much change in 500m times over yesterday. A2 (186 cm tall, 99 kg weight) with 48.97 knots and Gunnar Asmussen (186 cm, 97 kg) on 48.89. Jim Crossley fastest of the normal size speedsailors (177 cm, 93 kg) not far behind on 47.54 knots for the 500m.

Is this without extra ballast? if so, then me putting on the "dad bod" kg's might actually be a good thing...

"It's for speed sailing darling" when the wife makes a comment haha

That's it for this year, wind forecast never really firmed up for the rest of the week. No major records or record breaking conditions for 2023.

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Roo said..
Day 8 on the L?deritz speed course. Not much change in 500m times over yesterday. A2 (186 cm tall, 99 kg weight) with 48.97 knots and Gunnar Asmussen (186 cm, 97 kg) on 48.89. Jim Crossley fastest of the normal size speedsailors (177 cm, 93 kg) not far behind on 47.54 knots for the 500m.

What's a 'Normal' size speedsailor? Around here they vary between 55Kg and 110Kg. But I'm not sure if and of us could be truly called 'Normal'

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sailquik said..

Roo said..
Day 8 on the L?deritz speed course. Not much change in 500m times over yesterday. A2 (186 cm tall, 99 kg weight) with 48.97 knots and Gunnar Asmussen (186 cm, 97 kg) on 48.89. Jim Crossley fastest of the normal size speedsailors (177 cm, 93 kg) not far behind on 47.54 knots for the 500m.

What's a 'Normal' size speedsailor? Around here they vary between 55Kg and 110Kg. But I'm not sure if and of us could be truly called 'Normal'

Nah...yer just average not normal Daffy!

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Roo said.. Nah...yer just average not normal Daffy!

Here's the top speeds for each rider at L?deritz 2023. There were 10 days on which the course opened and speedsailors were timed over 500m.

Small group and a bit dissapointing speeds i believe ? Will there be a Luderitz 2024 ?????