Up with the Ray, down with the Trench: the 50 Knot season is here!!

Move over ‘La Trench’ – the English have arrived with their very own ‘speed canal’ – the Ray at Southend on Sea. Yes, this natural lagoon in sunny Essex is to become the focus for Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Dave White and 28 other invited sailors to try and break the 50knot speed barrier this winter.

"Apart from the negative of being tidal, the open sea brings more advantages to the rider."

"Drivenbywind is not just for the elite but for everyone to push their own dreams forward."

What makes The Ray a better place for breaking the world speed record over The Trench?

Dave: Both have their positives and negatives and so far we haven't found one event that can deliver 100% perfect conditions. If we had, it would be so interesting. However, the ‘two course’ angles give Southend a real advantage particularly with such a long run
in (and exits) on both. But where the real advantage comes is the smoothness of the water combined with the undisturbed winds.
Southend's only negative is the tide. It’s only possible to run for six hours a day with a midday low water, which is enough time for anyone racing in record conditions, but there are also days when the lack of light shortens the time on the water.

The Trench will get the strong winds needed for records more frequently as the Mistral can blow for days and it’s why the canal holds most of the modern records including the world record of 48.7knots (Finian Maynard). But as with Southend, it has its negatives. The Mistral is gusty and also has to come through small trees that sit upwind of the canal. The canal also creates its own turbulence by sitting a meter out of the ground. As with everything, it’s all a compromise, and I for one have been happy to sail the Trench in record conditions.

Being an 'open sea' location, rather than man made, what advantages and also what dis-advantages does this have?

Dave: Its easy to get drawn into a debate on open sea verses man made water. Apart from the negative of being tidal, the open sea brings more advantages to the rider. Being able to sail back up the course not only saves on resources, but gives time to settle into the conditions.
Blasting down a run is so short you hardly get into your stride. When I made my record at The Trench I only sailed for one minute that day and who sails at their best without a warm-up?

How are you going to promote this record attempt to the outside world, i.e. not just the windsurfing media?

Dave: Pete Davis! Sounds like a short answer, but he's taken on the task! As much as we'd like to use drivenbywind to expose windsurfing to those missing out on our great sport, my first intentions were to those within.

We are chasing the 50 knot barrier, but national records and personal achievements carry just as much weight; drivenbywind is not just for the elite but for everyone to push their own dreams forward. Just maybe it's that mix that will capture the imagination of the public.

If you do break the world record, what, in your opinion, will be the key: equipment, fitness, wind direction, luck?!

Dave: Luck, now that's an interesting thought. Is it lucky to be there? Is it lucky to catch that magic gust? Sure something has to be going your way but luck can come to us all, its then knowing what to do with it.

Personally I'll be using a production board (doesn't seem right to change my direction at the 11th hour) plus Patrick Diethelm has given me the extra motivation (having beaten Dave’s Production boards record). I've always thought it possible to bring the records (production and custom) together. It'll be tough and maybe that luck will have to run with us, but then Martin van Meurs has sent out a sign that it's possible. (Martin hit 50knots at The Ray last weekend but not as an average over 500m)

On the other hand we'll have some fantastic sailors on the water pushing hard with custom equipment. Bjorn finished the year on a real high in Namibia and it would take a fool to think he's going to be easy to overcome. The outright record is one of the few windsurfing titles to elude him over the years. The combination of Southend and his determination will surely have the world watching.

The event is being launched at the London Boat Show this week at Earl’s Court and will be backed up with a comprehensive marketing and PR campaign. It will start on the 14th of January 2008 which historically is the windiest time of the year with an open event for one week. It will then go straight into a four month standby to give the best chance to achieve the ultimate goal – 50 knots!”

"The combination of The Ray and Bjorn’s determination will surely have the world watching."