Kiteboard, no foils, 50.1 knots (57.6 mph)

I chugged this up on the Moth at 27 knots thread to keep things current, but felt it deserved its own thread. It's that increbible.

Sebastien Cattelan of France has blistered through the magical 50 knot sailing barrier on his kiteboard to set the new World Record at 50.1 knots.

http://www.kiteboardingmag.com/article/News/Rob-Douglas-sets-the-new-speed-record-at-499-knots

If the record is ratified, it will be the new standard for all wind powered craft and establish Sebastien as the first guy in history to slam the mythical barrier.

Can you hear that clanging sound?

 

Kiteboards are fast, but still kind of lame. back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,back and forth,

 

You forgot the up and down, twist in either direction, one handed flips, ankle deep water and very deep, flat conditions and double overhead surf, slaloms and straight lines and ramps and yes.... even upwind.

Oh, and you can take them to the beach and hook-up a buggy, to the mountains and go for it on a board, or skis...to a frozen lake and blast with a skate mounted board... shall we go on?

All that and the fastest ever on the water powered by the wind and only four feet long.

 

WOW! That's an amazing record!

But is it so difficult to put a wind speed on that damn site??? I couldn't find a single info on weather conditions during the speed trials!
I'm curious about the wind speed because I would like to confront it with the speed record made with a windsurf, which is 49.1 kts at 60 kts mistral wind.

You know, that old human need to create competition and confrontation... Like snowboard vs. ski, cats vs. dogs, beer vs. wine, vegetarians vs. beef lovers etc.

 

more info is at http://www.luderitz-speed.com/
From what I can remember, they reported winds as 35 knots with short gusts up to 45 or so, and sail a 140 deg course.

back and forth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh6vcN7gEek

 

I believe it when registered at : http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/

 

There was a faster run by another kiteboard earier this year, but it wasn't ratified as an official record. I can't find the info on it right now.

 

Yes, Schake, that's why it says this in the very first post: "If the record is ratified, it will be the new standard for all wind powered craft and establish Sebastien as the first guy in history to slam the mythical barrier."

From the Luderitz site:
http://www.luderitz-speed.com/ContentPages/News/News.aspx?pageid=1

New World Record, and 50 knots falls! - unratified

Friday, September 19, 2008, Friday 4:59 PM

Just in - still to be confirmed by WSSRC officials, but we may have a new world record of 50.1 knots, set by Sebastian Cattelan in a brilliant early run. Rob Douglas set a scorching 49.9 knots, then Catman blew past on the very next run with 50.1 knots. Sjoukje Bredenkamp (ZA) has blasted her old record of 42.35 knots with a 45.1 knot run. Results still to be ratified on video records and adjusted for currents by WSSRC officials. Windsurfers now very, very hungry to get out there as ESF event organisers reset the course for high tide conditions. Bjorn Dunkerbeck comments that he is very confident of doing some sizzling runs this afternoon still.

Also from the press package:

Fred Dasse “In the first edition, last year, we quickly had many runs over 44 knots, and at the end the famous record of Alexandre Caizergues. This year, we have decided to set the bar higher, with a more elaborate structure and the arrival of the windsurfers at the starting line. If there is a record, it will be validated by the officials of the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), it’s good news.”

WSSRC officials, Markus Schwendtner and Michael Ellison, are present on site and will have immediate access to, as well as a hand in, the setting up of the course and the monitoring of the conditions present.

Chris Ostlind
Lunada Design
www.lunadadesign.com

 

I just can't swallow this one... I need to see Bjoern go over 50 ASAP.

 

Some fresh photos that just came in from Namibia

 

Great photos!

 

For Namibia that's not that fast, some okes almost walk that fast there.