Rob Douglas, the present holder of the world speed record under sail, and newly nominated for ISAF male sailor of the year.
TURNING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE
American Rob Douglas is the fastest sailor on the planet. On October 28,
2010, with the wind gusting to 45 knots, Douglas raised the bar further
than anyone had gone before, hitting a new record speed of 55.65 knots in
the manmade trench at Luderitz, Namibia.
Speed comes from strong, steady wind and flat water, and the virtues of the
Luderitz trench in southern Africa first helped Douglas set the outright
record in 2008 at a speed of 49.84 knots. Ever since, the Luderitz Speed
Challenge in October has been the de facto event for windsurfers and
kiteboarders to test the limits of speed.
Having an organized event helps to defray the related costs. Electronic
timing equipment and personnel are needed, along with maintaining the
shallow trench so it’s groomed for speed. With the speed averaged over a
500 meter distance, organizers in 2010 dug a trench 750 meter long by 3 to
5 meters wide by 1 to 3 feet deep.
After a year of tuning his kites and boards for another record run next
month at Luderitz, Douglas finds himself on the outside looking in. “I have
heard that the Luderitz Speed Challenge is going to happen this year,”
replied Douglas, “but it will be a private event and I am not invited to
attend.” The event organizer is also excluding France’s Alexandre
Caizergues, who had raised the speed record to 54.10 knots just before
Douglas pushed if further to 55.65 knots.
Douglas has no idea why he is barred from the event. “I can only guess,”
said Douglas. “Sebastian Cattelan has never won the Luderitz Speed
Challenge and maybe with Alex and me not around he will have better luck.
Not real good for the sport but that’s the way it goes.” Attempts to
contact organizers of the Luderitz Speed Challenge have been unsuccessful.
Turning lemons into lemonade, Douglas is hosting a GPS speed event on at
Martha’s Vineyard on October 16-31. The 12 fastest kitesurfers in world
history will race, including multiple world record holder Alex Caizergues
and the fastest women sailor, Charlotte Consorti. The North American Speed
Sailing Invitational (NASSI) will have $30,000 in prize money, courtesy of
Lynch Associates and The Black Dog.
The event is organized by The North American Speed Sailing Project (NASSP)
and under specified conditions laid down by the International Kiteboarding
Class Association (IKA). — http://tinyurl.com/NASSI-092711
