Who is the fastest on the water? As a windsurfer, you often get involved in discussions about the top speeds and records of surfers, kiters and sailing boats.
To answer this question correctly, you first need to look at the different classes: Of course there is a record for the fastest sail-powered watercraft, but at the same time the records for the various sports equipment are also scored separately. The distance travelled is also taken into account: Is the speed measured over a distance of 500 metres, over the nautical mile (approx. 1.85 km) or over another specified distance? Or does the maximum speed that was only reached for a brief moment count?
These are the current speed records in windsurfing:
- 500 metres men: 53.49 knots (Antoine Albeau, 2024)
- 500 metres women: 48.03 knots (Jenna Gibson, 2024)
- Top speed men/Vmax/2sec: 55.66 knots (Vincent Valkenaers, 2021)
- Top speed women/Vmax/2sec: 50.02 knots (Jenna Gibson, 2024)
- German speed record for men: 52.69 knots (Gunnar Asmussen, 2024)
- German women's speed record: 45.45 knots (Melek Toraman, 2022)
The speed record for all sailing boats over 500 metres has been held by the sailboat "Vestas Sailrocket 2" with 65.45 knots since 2012. In this classification, Antoine Albeau was the last windsurfer to hold the record, with 49.09 knots in 2008. In addition to sailboats, kiters are now also faster here, with Rob Douglas setting the record at the time in 2010 with 55.65 knots.
(as at 20 September 2023, source sailspeedrecords.com)
The records are set at these spots
For high speeds, the water must be as smooth as possible for speed windsurfing, and the wind must be able to blow undisturbed and at a good angle for a space wind course.
In 2008, a channel was dug out in Namibia especially for windsurfers and kiters, the Lüderitz Speed Channel. Most speed records have been set here in recent years. Here, the wind is accelerated by a natural jet effect and is said to reach an average of 35 knots three times a week. Wind speeds of 50 knots (that's over 90 km/h) are not uncommon here.
As the wind does not usually change direction much here, the speed channel was built in such a way that the wind hits the 950 metre long, approximately seven metre wide and one metre deep channel at an optimum angle of 140 to 145 degrees. The 500 metre competition course is marked out on the canal, and the average speed over 500 metres counts in comparison. In the immediate vicinity is the Diaz Point spot, where similar wind conditions prevail, but the race takes place on the open sea.
There was also an artificial speed channel in St. Maries-de-la-Mer in France, where numerous records were set before the Lüderitz Canal was built. In addition, speed events are regularly held on the open sea in La Palme, where the wind blows offshore and also ensures a mirror-smooth track right at the waterline. In the past, experiments have also been carried out with devices to prevent wind waves and smooth the water.
In Germany, some tideways in the North Sea, such as off Büsum, are among the best spots for top speeds. The German Championships were held on the Orther Reede for many years, and then for the first time on the Saaler Bodden in 2022.
The most famous speed windsurfing events
- The speed riders meet every year in autumn for the Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia. This event lasts around a month, with many riders only travelling for a few days if the wind forecast is right.
- The Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge is a GPS competition in which participants measure their speed with GPS watches at random spots and then upload the results to the website.
- The Bavarian "Bayerischer Speed Kinibut only on Bavarian lakes. Similarly, there is the Sax Speed King for Saxon waters
- The Prince of Speed takes place every year in La Palme, France
- The German Speedsurfers Association organises the annual German Championships and other regattas
- The largest Internet platform for GPS measurements worldwide is GPS speedsurfing
