GETTING READY…

SPEED SAILING – Rob Douglas and Alex Caizergues are in the starting blocks ! The two kitesurfers involved in “Salt and Speed”, a sailing speed record attempt in Salins-de-Giraud, southern France, are actively preparing for the off. In this way, Thursday and Friday will see them open proceedings for the second edition of the event. Some boisterous weather conditions are expected on site with over 40 knots of breeze forecast.

Initially the two riders are seeking to improve on the World Sailing Speed record for kitesurfing currently held by Rob (55.65 knots), before attempting to up the ante with a 60-knot average speed over 500 metres.

HISTORY OF WORLD SAILING SPEED RECORD:

65.45 knots: Sailrocket 2 November 2012

55.65 knots: Rob Douglas 28 October 2010 Namibia

55.49 knots: Seb Cattelan 28 October 2010 Namibia

54.10 knots: Alexandre Caizergues 12 October 2010 Luderitz, Namibia exceeding 100km/hr

51.36 knots: Hydroptère on 6 September 2009

50.57 knots: Alexandre Caizergues 4 October 2008 Luderitz, Namibia

50.26 knots: Seb Cattelan 3 October 2008 Luderitz, Namibia

49.84 knots: Rob Douglas 19 September 2008 Luderitz, Namibia

49.09 knots: World Speed Record Antoine Albeau 5 March 2008 in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France

46.82 knots: Record set by windsurfer Finian Maynard in the autumn of 2004, bringing an end to the hegemony of the sailboat Yellow Pages in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France

46.52 knots: Yellow Pages Endeavour in 1993 at the Sandy Point spot, Australia

38.86 knots: Pascal MAKA the first windsurfer to rack up a new official record with 38.86 knots in Sotavento

26.30 knots: Crossbow Catamaran in Portland in 1972