Select to expand quoteRoo said..
Looking back on this year's event and there were no breakthrough equipment developments. It has all been about incremental changes and being more efficient in less wind. Antonine's record sail was a reversion to the design that worked back in 2015 but with a larger foot area. His board was one that had more waterline that made it more stable to ride and less on the tail. His fin was an evolution as well. Consistency was the key as he showed with the number of runs he did in the 53 knot range.
Jenna's women's record showed just how good production equipment has become where a good windsurfer could buy it off the shelf and go out and set a record on their first attempt. Considering she is only 173cm tall and 78kg without weight it was a mighty effort on her part. She peaked at 50.06 for 2 seconds so there's hope for smaller lighter riders to break 50 kts in the right conditions.
I hope this year's records will promote more interest in the event and Raffi and his crew can make it happen again in 2025. Will be great to see AA's speeds when he gets around to posting them. There's a few PWA racers that want to make the trip and see what speeds they can achieve.
One wonders what will take to brake the wall. It is more than a decade that is has been very incremental, now fractions of a knot. Still, it is hard to believe that these guys are doing more than 20 knots better than my best 2" ever!!!!!!!!! I do not even have the excuse of weight, the women are blowing by me!
Select to expand quoteJohn340 said..
Ditto Roo
My pleasure, I enjoy sharing speed stuff. It's always fascinating to see the developments from around the world.
Select to expand quoteduzzi said..Roo said..
Looking back on this year's event and there were no breakthrough equipment developments. It has all been about incremental changes and being more efficient in less wind. Antonine's record sail was a reversion to the design that worked back in 2015 but with a larger foot area. His board was one that had more waterline that made it more stable to ride and less on the tail. His fin was an evolution as well. Consistency was the key as he showed with the number of runs he did in the 53 knot range.
Jenna's women's record showed just how good production equipment has become where a good windsurfer could buy it off the shelf and go out and set a record on their first attempt. Considering she is only 173cm tall and 78kg without weight it was a mighty effort on her part. She peaked at 50.06 for 2 seconds so there's hope for smaller lighter riders to break 50 kts in the right conditions.
I hope this year's records will promote more interest in the event and Raffi and his crew can make it happen again in 2025. Will be great to see AA's speeds when he gets around to posting them. There's a few PWA racers that want to make the trip and see what speeds they can achieve.
One wonders what will take to brake the wall. It is more than a decade that is has been very incremental, now fractions of a knot. Still, it is hard to believe that these guys are doing more than 20 knots better than my best 2" ever!!!!!!!!! I do not even have the excuse of weight, the women are blowing by me!
Pretty sure the 100kph for 500m will fall in the next year or two. AA has some new boards coming that play with the air/water interface to reduce drag at speed. The next big obstacle for windsurfers will be taming the cavitation threshold and pushing through it. Whilst we can build supercav fins we need the power to get them loaded up and working efficiently....sails may have to change to achieve this.
Final event video posted
Select to expand quoteBen1973 said..
It's all good but for me sailing down a canal is no where near as exciting as open water speed.
LOL! Try it sometime in 35-50 knots of wind!! Believe me. It IS 'exciting'. 
Update from Antoine on what is possible: www.planchemag.fr/2024/12/antoine-albeau-jai-pas-mal-bosse-sur-le-canal-car-quand-je-suis-arrive-il-netait-pas-pret-du-tout/?sfnsn=scwspwa
"I'd analyzed everything with Manfred, the guy GPS. In the evening, we looked at the tracks of his GPS and mine. I navigate with three GPS on me to cross-check all the information because there may be errors. On his GPS, on the first part of the run (250 meters), I am at 54.5 knots and on another run, I am at the same speed but on the' other part of the channel. That means that the 54.5 knots, you can do them. That means it's is doable. But we need the ideal channel. If all goes well, I will return to Luderitz in November to improve my record."
Select to expand quoteRoo said..
and youngest windsurfer to go over 50 knots for 500m, Brendan Lorho.
thanks Roo.
someone asked earlier, I am 1m87 for 75kg. so not much compare to the other guys.
sorry did not come back on the forum earlier, took some time off with family, then straight back to univ ...
had somehow some catch up to do, looks like I m not fast everywhere ahahahah
Thanks for all comments. I see you found the Youtube videos dad did, on the lsc and my account. Soo all good.
Select to expand quotebrendanF113 said..Roo said..
and youngest windsurfer to go over 50 knots for 500m, Brendan Lorho.
thanks Roo.
someone asked earlier, I am 1m87 for 75kg. so not much compare to the other guys.
sorry did not come back on the forum earlier, took some time off with family, then straight back to univ ...
had somehow some catch up to do, looks like I m not fast everywhere ahahahah
Thanks for all comments. I see you found the Youtube videos dad did, on the lsc and my account. Soo all good.
Thanks for keeping us updated Brendan, really appreciate your reports. Not only was you speed impressive but the number of runs you did on the canal was insane. How much lead did you carry when you did the 50 knot run, also what equipment did you use and what were the conditions like? What GPS were you using and was there much difference between them and Manfred's unit? Thank you dad for the videos, they were very well done and great to watch.
Roo
Select to expand quoteRoo said
Thanks for keeping us updated Brendan, really appreciate your reports. Not only was you speed impressive but the number of runs you did on the canal was insane. How much lead did you carry when you did the 50 knot run, also what equipment did you use and what were the conditions like? What GPS were you using and was there much difference between them and Manfred's unit? Thank you dad for the videos, they were very well done and great to watch.
Roo
Yeah could have pushed to 200 runs, but at one stage, you need to preserve yourself, and do quality and not quantity.
The first few days were all about quantity. I needed to learn every inch of the canal, and get familiar with it, like if it was my back garden.
The 2 strong days, I carried the max I had with me so 12kg. Epic to carry weight in your luggage, got stopped on the return trip as it showed a black mass in the luggage, so had to go through custom security etc... to let the luggage pass security.
Most guys either hide it somewhere in the sand there at luderitz or ask friends to keep then in Cape Town.
Until I did 49 I was on the av production board 40. Then after that I swap to the Av38 proto (same look at production) that was made by Aurelio in 2019. Herv? the french distributor found it for me, so was happy to have the 38 there.
The first 250m 300m were really really flat, then the last bit could be a bit choppy based on the wind direction. Keep in mind it is choppy anyway, going down 140deg from the wind makes any place choppy with rolling chop. If you want it flat, we should race in a bit more square condition but then, I ll not be doing those speed. Square = heavy guys, is a direct compensation of the power of the sail. Going super downwind, is "less" sensible to the mass of the riders.
I used 5m sail and 19cm asy chopper fin. Tried different brand, but the chopper was the one helping put the nose down which I needed in the gusts.
I think if you compare speed to wind ratio, and we discussed it a lot with my dad, the speed are higher in medium condition 30 to 50kts compare to blasty condition 50kts+ because then the water is choppy and slowing you down.
If we could get super flat water, blasting condition like the 2x 1hour we had, and no hole, then I would guess Antoine and Gunnar will have been easily on the 54 55 mark, and for myself potentially 52 53...
Again just my opinion, not an expert, just doing what I can with my weight and size... but just thinking, it could be easier to make the gear progress for less windy condition and see directly the benefits.
I used the manfred ones obviously (on the front arm always as it is his requirement), and on the back arm, the esp-gps from Jan /Andres and a motion screen that Julien kindly fixed for me before leaving to Luderitz.
Between the 2 esp-gps basically no difference or 0.01.
Between the motion and the esp-gps could find up to 0.1 max.
Between them all and manfred, same up to 0.1 max.
Keep in mind Manfred gps is taking measurement in the 500m defined by the cameras, while the others are taking your best 500m that can happen a few meters before or after the camera.
Between the camera and gps, max 0.1 in my case. Even one run at 49 was higher on the camera than on the gps.
So give or take all devices are extremely reliable with the technology they use.
All brands worked very well there, and I want to thank Julien, Andres and Jan for making me one device for Luderitz.
Then it s all about what design you like more, the practicality of a button push versus a magnet start... But once it s on your arm they re all nice and easy. Downloading track is very good on the 3 devices.
ibb.co/VDrqptm
Manfred's one are as far as I know (dad asked him) not for sale and exclusively dedicated to the WSSRC records attempts.
Select to expand quoteRoo said
Thanks for keeping us updated Brendan, really appreciate your reports. Not only was you speed impressive but the number of runs you did on the canal was insane. How much lead did you carry when you did the 50 knot run, also what equipment did you use and what were the conditions like? What GPS were you using and was there much difference between them and Manfred's unit? Thank you dad for the videos, they were very well done and great to watch.
Roo
Yeah could have pushed to 200 runs, but at one stage, you need to preserve yourself, and do quality and not quantity.
The first few days were all about quantity. I needed to learn every inch of the canal, and get familiar with it, like if it was my back garden.
The 2 strong days, I carried the max I had with me so 12kg. Epic to carry weight in your luggage, got stopped on the return trip as it showed a black mass in the luggage, so had to go through custom security etc... to let the luggage pass security.
Most guys either hide it somewhere in the sand there at luderitz or ask friends to keep then in Cape Town.
Until I did 49 I was on the av production board 40. Then after that I swap to the Av38 proto (same look at production) that was made by Aurelio in 2019. Herv? the french distributor found it for me, so was happy to have the 38 there.
The first 250m 300m were really really flat, then the last bit could be a bit choppy based on the wind direction. Keep in mind it is choppy anyway, going down 140deg from the wind makes any place choppy with rolling chop. If you want it flat, we should race in a bit more square condition but then, I ll not be doing those speed. Square = heavy guys, is a direct compensation of the power of the sail. Going super downwind, is "less" sensible to the mass of the riders.
I used 5m sail and 19cm asy chopper fin. Tried different brand, but the chopper was the one helping put the nose down which I needed in the gusts.
I think if you compare speed to wind ratio, and we discussed it a lot with my dad, the speed are higher in medium condition 30 to 50kts compare to blasty condition 50kts+ because then the water is choppy and slowing you down.
If we could get super flat water, blasting condition like the 2x 1hour we had, and no hole, then I would guess Antoine and Gunnar will have been easily on the 54 55 mark, and for myself potentially 52 53...
Again just my opinion, not an expert, just doing what I can with my weight and size... but just thinking, it could be easier to make the gear progress for less windy condition and see directly the benefits.
I used the manfred ones obviously (on the front arm always as it is his requirement), and on the back arm, the esp-gps from Jan /Andres and a motion screen that Julien kindly fixed for me before leaving to Luderitz.
Between the 2 esp-gps basically no difference or 0.01.
Between the motion and the esp-gps could find up to 0.1 max.
Between them all and manfred, same up to 0.1 max.
Keep in mind Manfred gps is taking measurement in the 500m defined by the cameras, while the others are taking your best 500m that can happen a few meters before or after the camera.
Between the camera and gps, max 0.1 in my case. Even one run at 49 was higher on the camera than on the gps.
So give or take all devices are extremely reliable with the technology they use.
All brands worked very well there, and I want to thank Julien, Andres and Jan for making me one device for Luderitz.
Then it s all about what design you like more, the practicality of a button push versus a magnet start... But once it s on your arm they re all nice and easy. Downloading track is very good on the 3 devices.
Manfred's one are as far as I know (dad asked him) not for sale and exclusively dedicated to the WSSRC records attempts.
Select to expand quotebrendanF113 said..Roo said
Thanks for keeping us updated Brendan, really appreciate your reports. Not only was you speed impressive but the number of runs you did on the canal was insane. How much lead did you carry when you did the 50 knot run, also what equipment did you use and what were the conditions like? What GPS were you using and was there much difference between them and Manfred's unit? Thank you dad for the videos, they were very well done and great to watch.
Roo
Yeah could have pushed to 200 runs, but at one stage, you need to preserve yourself, and do quality and not quantity.
The first few days were all about quantity. I needed to learn every inch of the canal, and get familiar with it, like if it was my back garden.
The 2 strong days, I carried the max I had with me so 12kg. Epic to carry weight in your luggage, got stopped on the return trip as it showed a black mass in the luggage, so had to go through custom security etc... to let the luggage pass security.
Most guys either hide it somewhere in the sand there at luderitz or ask friends to keep then in Cape Town.
Until I did 49 I was on the av production board 40. Then after that I swap to the Av38 proto (same look at production) that was made by Aurelio in 2019. Herv? the french distributor found it for me, so was happy to have the 38 there.
The first 250m 300m were really really flat, then the last bit could be a bit choppy based on the wind direction. Keep in mind it is choppy anyway, going down 140deg from the wind makes any place choppy with rolling chop. If you want it flat, we should race in a bit more square condition but then, I ll not be doing those speed. Square = heavy guys, is a direct compensation of the power of the sail. Going super downwind, is "less" sensible to the mass of the riders.
I used 5m sail and 19cm asy chopper fin. Tried different brand, but the chopper was the one helping put the nose down which I needed in the gusts.
I think if you compare speed to wind ratio, and we discussed it a lot with my dad, the speed are higher in medium condition 30 to 50kts compare to blasty condition 50kts+ because then the water is choppy and slowing you down.
If we could get super flat water, blasting condition like the 2x 1hour we had, and no hole, then I would guess Antoine and Gunnar will have been easily on the 54 55 mark, and for myself potentially 52 53...
Again just my opinion, not an expert, just doing what I can with my weight and size... but just thinking, it could be easier to make the gear progress for less windy condition and see directly the benefits.
I used the manfred ones obviously (on the front arm always as it is his requirement), and on the back arm, the esp-gps from Jan /Andres and a motion screen that Julien kindly fixed for me before leaving to Luderitz.
Between the 2 esp-gps basically no difference or 0.01.
Between the motion and the esp-gps could find up to 0.1 max.
Between them all and manfred, same up to 0.1 max.
Keep in mind Manfred gps is taking measurement in the 500m defined by the cameras, while the others are taking your best 500m that can happen a few meters before or after the camera.
Between the camera and gps, max 0.1 in my case. Even one run at 49 was higher on the camera than on the gps.
So give or take all devices are extremely reliable with the technology they use.
All brands worked very well there, and I want to thank Julien, Andres and Jan for making me one device for Luderitz.
Then it s all about what design you like more, the practicality of a button push versus a magnet start... But once it s on your arm they re all nice and easy. Downloading track is very good on the 3 devices.
ibb.co/VDrqptm
Manfred's one are as far as I know (dad asked him) not for sale and exclusively dedicated to the WSSRC records attempts.
Really appreciate the detailed response Brendan, made it feel as if we were there with you.
Select to expand quoteRoo said..
Really appreciate the detailed response Brendan, made it feel as if we were there with you.
you're welcome.
Was nice here on this forum, should have posted earlier but on the rush there you tend to forget to give news.
Next big speed event will be prince of speed in La palme end of April.
Select to expand quotebrendanF113 said..Roo said..
Really appreciate the detailed response Brendan, made it feel as if we were there with you.
you're welcome.
Was nice here on this forum, should have posted earlier but on the rush there you tend to forget to give news.
Next big speed event will be prince of speed in La palme end of April.
Hi Brendan,
How does Diaz Point compare to La Franqui?
It looks fabulous, the water seems to be even flatter.
How strong and constant is the wind, in comparison.
Advantage of La Franqui obviously is there are no sharks. Well, only the small ones ;)
Select to expand quotened321 said..
Hi Brendan,
How does Diaz Point compare to La Franqui?
It looks fabulous, the water seems to be even flatter.
How strong and constant is the wind, in comparison.
Advantage of La Franqui obviously is there are no sharks. Well, only the small ones ;)
Hi,
what we actually all call Dias point is named : shearwater bay.
It s a very nice, very windy (easy 10kts more on avg than the canal). But we had a day where we all went to Dias and there was nothing, on the way back we stopped at the canal and Jenna and Simon were enjoying the canal to themselves well powered.
So I guess the wind there is all but unpredictable. I mean the forecast gives you an overall picture but you cant really rely as too many factor can change it, clouds, tides, etc
A bit like La palme, open ocean spot, you can go close to the shore but have to be carefull with the tide as it s shifting way more water than la palme.
I did not see shark there, but a lot of dolphins playing. Did not feel unsafe. On the other side of the bay is the kitesurf spot which was pretty packed certain days, and pretty wavy and looked fun.
Nice thing with Dias is the natural curve in the beach making it always good with most of the south direction, there is always 250m really good. But braking or acceleration zone can be short. it s a 250m spot not a 500m spot, and you will have part of the spot very very choppy as the angle will open too much with the curve.
Very nice spot as backup, but you need to get used to portack runs
Antoine finally posted his GPS data for December 1, the record day. His 500m GPS with the Locosys GW-60 was 53.73. Video timing on the canal was 53.49 knots.
