breaking the speed limit

well you would'nt want to hit one of those pylons at 47 knts

maybe GPSTC should have laws

this is a vid that shows its very dangerous

Details of Martin's (Van Meurs) session from that video above www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=forum&forum=2&val=3347

Average speed 40.53 knots ( 41.71 41.02 40.56 40.02 39.33 )
Max. GPS (display) 44.01 knots
Max. 2 sec. (software) 42.46 knots
100 m run 41.88 knots
250 m run 41.44 knots
500 m run 38.51 knots
Nautical mile 0 knots
1 hour 0 knots
Distance 0 km
Windspeed 35
Gusts 65


Remarks Normally I wouldn't post the windspeed since it's so difficult to feel how much the gusts differ from the constant flow. This time ans Klingeld was standing like a statue on the pee for hours looking at the windmetre so I think this is a fair bet. The highest gusts that have been measured were 60 knots, but out on the water he wind was stronger, so I wrote down 65. But 60 or 65 who cares. I could also say insanely windy.

It was a big day with a great atmosphere on and of the water. Eventhoug conditions weren't perfect because of the waves flooding the dam at soe parts it still was very good. The angle was great but not perfect and the wind could have been a little less for obvious reasons. All in all I think it's fair to say that Herkingen will get us up to higher speeds in near future.

A couple of guys showed great speeds considering the fierce gusts. Christiaan, Pieter, Peter, Dirk and especially Dennis showed they will be able to concur the top ten this year when everything comes together. Everyone had their own little problems to fight the fierce windspeeds but for all it was a great lesson and we will laugh when it's blowing 40-45 knots next time.

Personally I as struggling to find the right stance all day. The board was lifting too much in the back. when I finally understood my personal problems I took the Naish Sped Pro out which has a tiny tail and all of a sudden everything came together and the speeds were up again.

I had two massive runs downwind which both ended in a severe crash. Once I was hitting the sternwave of Dennis board at over 80km. I crashed the sail hit the water and just because of the impact a panel was totally torn up and once I nearly succeeded in putting a hole in the dam covering the harbour. Both times ended up in a big spike as well (which also explains the difference in max gps speed and the 2 second run). Roger told me I have probably been very unlucky as the fastest 10 second run shows an average of 82 km but since it's a run of ten seconds and the two second intervals are gone it can't be allowed. It sure did feel like a high 80 max speed, but we will never know. But that's all part of the game and it still was a great experience to have a sail ith all those dedicated speedies.

The level in Holland is rising dramtically and it's only a matter of time before we will be back.....

and from Simon Kloostra

Insane conditions! I never sailed in this much wind. Conditions were very tough. In the morning the angel was very broad. Once on the course angle was probably right, but getting on the course was hard. Between the approach and the start of the course you had to bear away almost 90 degrees, and with the fierce wind this was a scary matter. Once you started a run there was no backing off, as you would end up on the dam. In the beginning I aborted most runs at this stage. The poles in the water didn't really help either.
Later in the day the angle got better, but the wind increased even more to a full storm, sometimes gusting up to 60 knots. After a few stops I started to get some more conficence and made quite a few runs, allways with the brakes on though, so speeds were not really high for me. Well, I consider today as a learning session. Most of all though I had an excellent time, you really felt in the middle of brute nature with the waterspary from the dam blowing away for dozens of meters, ferocious winds and the fastest speedsurfers of the country really going for it.

That second vid

Much respect to you guys [}:)]