Speed Sailing Record Attempt 2006 - Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay Record Attempt
When:	26 Oct - 23 Nov
Where:	Walvis Bay, Namibia
World Records broken
Outright World Record Nautical Mile:	Bjorn Dunkerbeck (41.14 knots) & Zara Davis (34.74 knots)
Production Board Record Nautical Mile:	Hennie Bredenkamp (40.33 knots) & Maaike Kallenborn (33.90 knots)

Report by: Louise Emery

Following on from the Walvis Bay Speed week, the famous 500m course was officially open from 26 October to 23 November with the aim being to break the Speed Sailing Record which now, of course, belongs to a windsurfer, Finian Maynard. He took it off the Yellow Pages Endeavour sailing vessel in April 2005. Finian's record breaking speed of 48.70knots was an average over 500m. But this event was also after breaking the fastest average speed over a nautical mile. All they needed was wind....

Bjorn Dunkerbeck

Click on image to enlarge

Zara Davis

Dave White

TOP 20

Yes, only 20 windsurfers & kitesurfers were allowed to sail off the famous Walvis Bay sandbar during this special time:

Alain de Gendt (BEL)
Alessandro Comerlati (ITA)
Bjorn Dunkerbeck (ESP)
Christian Bornemann (GER)
Darren Barker (GBR)
Dave White (GBR)
Frank Stein (NAM)
Franz Grabner (AUS)
Hennie Bredenkamp (SA)
Henrik Klagges (GER)
John Benamati (ITA)
Juergen Geiger (NAM)
Maaike Kallenborn (NED)
Manu Taub (FRA)
Morten Knutsen (NOR)
Nick Vardalachos (GRE)
Nigel Bowley (GBR)
Rob Munro (GBR)
Thomas Doeblin (GER)
Zara Davis (GBR)

One Mile

The organisers knew that if they got 30 knots of wind, the records would tumble on the mirror flat water. That sounds like a lot of wind, but not for Walvis Bay! As they predicted, four days later on the 30 October, Bjorn Dunkerbeck came within 0.5knots of breaking the Outright World Record over a mile and nine windsurfers & two kitesurfers broke their national speed records over a nautical mile.

The last day in October saw three world records broken; Bjorn Dunkerbeck switched from production board back to his prototypes and smashed the old record by more than one knot to 41.14 knots.
The Production Board record over a mile for men & was also broken by Hennie Bredenkamp with the UK's Zara Davis getting the Custom Board speed record over a mile.

The 500 metre dash

On Friday, 3rd November, the 500m course was opened. Straight away, Nick Vardalachos from Greece, Morten Knutsen from Norway and Zara Davis from the UK broke their 500m national speed records. Another Brit, Dave White, got the top speed of the day at 42.91knots on his Tabou production board.

Then the wind, although blowing at 20knots on a few days, wasn't enough to break any records so the sailors took some time out.

Speed Records 2006

Just in case you weren't sure where everyone stands going into 2007, here is the list of record holders.

Outright World Record 500m

Men: Finian Maynard (BVI) at 48.70 knots
Women: Karin Jaggi (SUI) at 41.25 knots

Outright World Record Nautical Mile

Men: Bjorn Dunkerbeck (ESP) at 41.14 knots NEW!
Women: Zara Davis (GBR) at 34.74 knots NEW!

Open Water Record 500m

Men: Bjorn Dunkerbeck at 44.35 knots
Women: Babette Coquelle at 40.05 knots

Production Board Record 500m

Men: Dave White at 44.03 knots
Women: Maaike Kallenborn at 36.45 knots

Production Board Record Nautical Mile

Men: Hennie Bredenkamp at 40.33 knots NEW!
Women: Maaike Kallenborn at 33.90 knots NEW!

*All new records subject to WSSRC ratification

Report by Louise Emery with help from www.50-knots.com. Photos courtesy of 50 knots website.





	Top of page