Take a look at our view of the 2013 Chris Benz Luderitz Speed Challenge, featured riders include Anders Bringdhal, Antoine Albeau, Patrick Diethelm, Lena Erdil, Zara Davis, Patrick van Hoof, David Garrel, Craig (Spotty) and more.
Fantastic video Col.
PS - Is that Spotty from the air at 1.30 recovering it after fin looks to let go.
Fantastic stuff, Col...superb aerials and I love the low angle splashes on camera as the guys go rocketing past!
Yes, Spotty was/is the only person to have a run filmed from the air. We never managed to get permission to film from a heli but did some from a light plane instead, not ideal but salvaged something.
Mick, not my smartest idea to lay down in the canal with guys flying past that close!
Select to expand quoteHF said..
Yes, Spotty was/is the only person to have a run filmed from the air. We never managed to get permission to film from a heli but did some from a light plane instead, not ideal but salvaged something.
Mick, not my smartest idea to lay down in the canal with guys flying past that close!
The fin did not let go just that the wind was very light, just enough to get in the straps at the start angle. By the time you turn the bend and get the usual burst of speed and are heading at 140-145 deg it is very easy to over sheet in that amount of wind especially if it's gusty or you get a lull. Pointing up is not an option, standing up/forward/sheeting out and bearing off a bit is all that's left. Was using 6.3, 74L, 18cm fin, Col had a very narrow window of opportunity to operate from the air that day, and the wind that was supposed to come in early came in later.
The wind this year has been very gusty, and with only 6 result days for us coming to the end of 4 weeks tells partly how I feel after what an effort to get here it has been. That said the competitors, people, the place and experience gained has been awesome, this place is a real challenge to get you and your gear sorted here, almost backwards in some respects. The run is deeper for starters and is not what we sail so much back home, what works well at home... stance, sail settings etc does not work as well here, more so with the lighter gustier conditions experienced at this years event.
So with around 15? competitors holding out on a forecast for this weekend that is changing all the time the word salvage sums it up somewhat, lets hope for us I can come away with at least a PB like the rest of the Aussies that have made it over this year.
The aerial shots are fantastic for setting the scene - really gives a feel for the locale and a bit of a feel for how different it is.
I thought maybe the aerial shots were from an RC helicopter but the footage was worth getting from the air.
it's a pity they didn't break major records but they had more wind than Sailrocket used to go 65 knots, so maybe its a lesson that they need to move away from standard windsurf equipment concepts to get the higher efficiency they need. Sailrocket is a bit like a windsurfer in its components.
Select to expand quoteSpotty said..HF said..
Yes, Spotty was/is the only person to have a run filmed from the air. We never managed to get permission to film from a heli but did some from a light plane instead, not ideal but salvaged something.
Mick, not my smartest idea to lay down in the canal with guys flying past that close!
The fin did not let go just that the wind was very light, just enough to get in the straps at the start angle. By the time you turn the bend and get the usual burst of speed and are heading at 140-145 deg it is very easy to over sheet in that amount of wind especially if it's gusty or you get a lull. Pointing up is not an option, standing up/forward/sheeting out and bearing off a bit is all that's left. Was using 6.3, 74L, 18cm fin, Col had a very narrow window of opportunity to operate from the air that day, and the wind that was supposed to come in early came in later.
The wind this year has been very gusty, and with only 6 result days for us coming to the end of 4 weeks tells partly how I feel after what an effort to get here it has been. That said the competitors, people, the place and experience gained has been awesome, this place is a real challenge to get you and your gear sorted here, almost backwards in some respects. The run is deeper for starters and is not what we sail so much back home, what works well at home... stance, sail settings etc does not work as well here, more so with the lighter gustier conditions experienced at this years event.
So with around 15? competitors holding out on a forecast for this weekend that is changing all the time the word salvage sums it up somewhat, lets hope for us I can come away with at least a PB like the rest of the Aussies that have made it over this year.
Spotty, I understand that you may be feeling some disappointment because the planets did not line up for you in Luderitz, but you've still had the experience of sailing there, and sailing in the company of the world's best - which is where you belong. It's a massive effort to raise the funds, get the leave pass and physically get yourself and your gear to the other side of the world to compete in an event that relies on nature - so the risk that it may not blow how you would like was always there.
Mate I think you've done an outstanding job, and you'll have Col's high quality images and film as your record of your windsurfing experience in Luderitz. Well done to you, Daffy, Brad, Jacques and Tony - you've all represented us Aussies well, and I'm sure many of us have lived through your experiences over the last few weeks.
So I guess I'll see you sailing extra deep at Lake George this summer?
