In less than a week Namibia has become firmly entrenched as a world class speed sailing venue. Current outright world speed record holder for the 500m and Nautical mile – Finian Maynard commented “Walvis is the Premier Nautical mile strip in the world” In some exciting racing, Finian Maynard of the British Virgin Islands crushed Bjorn Dunkerbeck’s outright nautical mile record of 34 knots to 39.97 knots (74 km/h) in 25 to 30 knots of wind. Throughout the day Fininan Maynard (BVI), Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Andora) and Antoine Albeau (France) stole the record from each other. Valerie Ghibaudo of France broke the woman’s outright nautical mile record to 33.68 knots (62 km/h) Winning the windsurfing 500 m event is Bjorn Dunkerbeck taking 5 out of 6 heats, followed by Fininan Maynard and Antoine Albeau from France. This result ensures that Bjorn Dunkerbeck is crowned as the ISA Speedsurfing World Champion 2005. In the Ladies 500m event, Valerie Ghibaudo of France beat Karin Jaggi (World record holder 41.25 knots) of Switzerland in the last day of exciting racing. Third is Maike Kallenborn of Netherlands. In the production board class, Local Namibian sailor Matthais Roettcher won, beating Thomas Doeblin of Germany and 3rd place Tine Slabe of Slovinia. The woman production title was snatched away by Christine Pihan of Germany from Valerie Ghibaudo of France. Kite Surfing Olaf Marting of South Africa improved his 500m world record to 41.79 knots (77.4 km/h) from 41.67 knots. In the points competition Sylvain Maurin of France beat Olaf Marting in the last day of sailing, contested closely by Christophe Prin-Guenon also of France. Aurelia Herpin of France smashed the world record for the 500m course from 33 knots to 35.20 knots (60 km/h), unfortunately the only lady racing so winning the 500m event for Ladies.
Dirk Hanel of Germany claimed the world record for the Nautical mile at a speed of 35.44 knots beating South African and 500m world record holder Olaf Marting in close racing. The woman’s kitesurfing record was claimed by Aurelia Herpin of France with a speed of 29.82 knots (55 km/h).
Kitesurfen is NIET :( erkend door de ISAF. M.a.w., zelfs als een kiter sneller gaat dan de snelste surfer, heeft hij NIET het world speed sailing record van hem gebroken. Redelijk debiel en zal uiteindelijk, neem ik aan, tzt nog wel veranderen. (in het begin werd surfen ook niet erkend)