World record: 375 kilometres in 12 hours – an interview with wingfoiler Malik Humeida

In 12 hours, Malik Humeida foiled 375 kilometres across the Baltic Sea – a world record. In this interview, the Kiel native explains how he came up with the idea, what challenges he had to overcome, and just how sore his muscles were afterwards.

Most wing foilers are exhausted after just two hours on the foil. So it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be on the water for 12 hours non-stop. Malik Humeida has done just that, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process.

Malik, first of all, congratulations on your world record! How are you feeling physically, just a few days after setting your record?

Thanks! When I woke up the next day, I was naturally aching all over; I was really feeling the effects of the workout.

Other people dream of a manoeuvre, a freestyle trick or an impressive wave – but you, on the other hand, are clearly dreaming of a long-distance world record. Why?

I first took up windsurfing as a teenager and often went out on the water at Heidkate. From there, you can see the Kiel lighthouse, and I always wondered what it would be like to windsurf all the way there. It’s only nine kilometres, but the idea always fascinated me. I’m now very active in wingfoil racing and had already applied to Guinness World Records for a record attempt back in early 2025. I originally wanted to foil from Heidkate to Denmark and back. That was rejected, because for an official record the distance must be reproducible, not a specific route – which, looking back, I can understand. The official long-distance record was previously held by the Greek Dimitris Apalagakis; he covered 259 kilometres in twelve hours.

What criteria must be met for a feat to be officially recognised as a world record?

As I said, it must be reproducible. This means that you must cover a distance between two fixed points or surveyed markers. Only the straight-line distance between the markers counts. Zigzagging or changes of course are not taken into account, which is why a record recorded by a GPS tracker is not sufficient for recognition. I opted for a measurement using two buoys, which I used as marker points. Their distance was officially measured by a pilot. And there must be independent witnesses present who keep a logbook, document lap times and also provide video evidence of this. Our aim was to break the official record. Then, a few weeks ago, a Frenchman set an unofficial world record. This stood at 355 kilometres in twelve hours.

“Unofficial” means it wasn’t in accordance with the rules, doesn’t it?

Exactly. That’s right – without fixed waypoints and along a route of your own choosing, where you can, of course, adjust your course based on the wind conditions. You can also change equipment along the way.

How do you prepare for a record attempt like this?

I trained all winter long. At times I went to the gym six times a week to build up my strength and endurance, as well as doing a lot of boxing and running. In the spring of 2026, I went to the Canary Islands for race training, where I foiled solo for seven hours straight for the first time – covering around 200 kilometres. That’s when I realised: the record is possible.

9 May 2026 was the day. What made this date stand out?

It was difficult, as the weather conditions on the Baltic Sea had been very unsettled throughout the spring. The forecasts sometimes changed by the hour. On the day of the record attempt, the forecast was somewhat more consistent, though there were still weather fronts that either disrupted or strengthened the wind. The big question was whether the wind would remain strong enough throughout the day to make the record possible.

What were the conditions like, and where did you go out on the water?

The record attempt began off Damp, with the buoys spaced about ten kilometres apart. Right on the second lap, a weather front rolled in and the wind died down. I was drifting in the water and thought to myself, ‘This is going to go wrong.’ Fortunately, the wind picked up again quite quickly and I was able to continue the race.

The time window for the record was 12 hours. How long were you actually on the board, and how long did you take for breaks?

At the start, I always took a few minutes’ break every two hours. I carried water in a hydration pack strapped to my body, along with energy gels and bars. So I was able to drink and eat whilst foiling. In total, I took a break of just under 30 minutes, so the net foiling time was around 11 hours 30 minutes.

Are you allowed to change the material?

The Guinness rules state: “Equipment may only be changed if it breaks.” As nothing broke, I used the same set throughout. I had a mid-length board and a 6.5m X-Race V2 wing from Vayu, plus a Chubanga V3 foil with a 550 cm² front wing. The race foils are, of course, very efficient, as the front wing, fuselage and stabiliser are all made from a single piece. This creates less drag and also provides better control.

How difficult was it to choose the right equipment before the start?

It’s always a gamble, of course. A larger foil has its advantages in wind holes, but it’s more demanding in strong gusts. My wing was far too big at times, as the wind picked up to just under 27 knots at times. I would have liked to switch to a smaller one, but that’s simply not allowed in official record attempts. I was really worried that I’d crash and everything would go flying around me.

When did you start to feel that you could do it?

I felt physically on top form. Still, you can never be sure you’ll make it, because something can always go wrong. The biggest question mark was whether the wind would hold out for the full twelve hours. There had already been a lot of media interest in the run-up to the event, which of course helps ensure you don’t give up when things aren’t going your way. Besides, I naturally had no prior experience of how fit I would still be at the end of the day. My longest training session had been ‘only’ seven hours long. After nine hours, I had broken Apalagakis’s official record; after that, it was simply a matter of breaking the unofficial record as well, which stood at 355 kilometres. That meant I had to push through the last three hours without any breaks. In the end, I broke both records – 375 kilometres in twelve hours.

Are you already thinking about new challenges so soon after? Or are you still far too tired for that?

I don’t have any specific plans at the moment. I’d love to sail around Lanzarote on a foil, but that’s just an idea for now.

Malik, thank you for talking to us, and get well soon!