Walvisbay Speedweek 2006
11.10.2006, Walvis Bay
The 2006 Jaegermeister Walvis Bay ISA Speedsurfing Grand Prix The 2006 ISA Speedsailing Record Attempt presented by Surf & Action
The ISA is pleased to present the 2006 Speedsurfing Grand Prix Tour Final in Walvis Bay, Namibia.
From the 14th of October until the 22nd of October, 2006, the natural speedstrip in Walvis Bay will be the centre of the speed elite of the world.
Juergen Geiger, Chairman of the Namibian Sailing Association and co-organizer of the event today stated: "We are very proud that the best speedsailors in the world return to Walvis Bay to compete with the local windsurfers and kitesurfer. We are sure that we can offer the best conditions possible to host a worthy world championship final"
The ISA's Tour Manager Markus Schwendtner gladly commented, that "Walvis Bay really offers perfect conditions, wind and water-wise, as well as from the infrastructure side. We thank all the local supporters for their big effort that has been put into this event, and we also have to say thank you to surf & action for preparing travel arrangements for the competitors"
After the first two events of this years tour, the showdown of the top competitors will see a thrilling competition between tour leader Finian Maynard (BVI, F2), last years world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck (AND, T1, North), who has same points as third ranked Patrik Diethelm (ITA, F2, North) who is also leading the production board ranking. Cyril Moussilmani (FRA, Fanatic, North) is ranked fourth but also has a chance to go for the production title.
Foto: Thorsten Niehaus
On the women side, Karin Jaggi (SUI, F2, North) is clear ahead of Marion Raisi (FRA, Exocet), with Zara Davis (GBR, T1) and Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA,T1) close behind.
Right after the end of the 2006 Speedsurfing Grand Prix Tour Final, the top athletes will stay another 4 weeks to challenge the elusive 50 knots mark at a newly discovered spot with very promising conditions. During inofficial test runs two days ago, the kitespeed world record has been already broken and the outright Speedsailing World Record of 48.7 knots hardly challenged.
More information will be shortly made available on the official event website.
Event Summary
The Walvis Bay Speedweek is one of the longest running Speedsailing events in the world. Many world and national records have been broken here, and with the discovery of new venues in the area the chances to better these records are strongly given.
All the top international speedsailors attend this end of the year event to fight for the remaining points for the Speedsailing championship.
You will be able to follow all the action on the official event website www.walvisbayspeedweek.info and the International Speedsurfing Associations website at www.speedsurfing.org. The 50 knots challenge is presented at www.50-knots.com.
Great info but wouldn't it be better in windsurfing general, not Gear Reviws???
Can it be shifted???
do kitsurfers go any faster than windsurfers? because by looking at that video it seems to be the case.
great video by the way. Chris Lockwood in that at all?
Kiters aren't quicker (yet) but there are a few brave loonies which are hitting mid 40's.
The kites mainly shown in the vids are "C" shaped, the guys who are now going quick are on the "Bow kites" as they are a lot more predictable and user friendly.
The stacks blew me away with the catapulting power of the windsurfer (riden that horse, flew 20m on gps) and the draging from the kites (ouch).
I don't think Chris was there last year, I know he went over to the trench last year, it should be interesting to see how he goes at this one.
Alby
Pugs..you are out of date. Fastest time at Weymouth Speed Week 2006 just finished was a Kite sailor. Amateur at that, Nigel Bowley(?) . Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Dave White were the next 2 fastest.
There is a guy in Germany (Timann Heinig) who's done 46.4 and another (David Trewern) at Sandy point who gone even faster on Kites. In all cases they sail in water way too shallow for windsurfers. Tilmann skims across mud flats 5cm deep .
Good news for windsurfers is that the Kiters are not allowed the speed record by the International Sailing Federation (yet).
yer it scared me how close they were to the sand. Bloody at risk of sum serious injury.
Alby, for Weymouth results go to www.speedsailing.com and click on "results" on the menu left on the side of the home page.
Dave White has some photos on his www.k-63.com site
As for Namibia...it's looking pretty marginal if the forecasts are reliable.
Given the size of Finian, Patrick, Bjorn, Dave White ( 1,2,3 &4) I'm sure there will be a few checking his boards and fins trying to figure out how an 83kg guy goes so fast.
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