After another run at 44. knots I now knew we had to make a kite change.  As I made my move to the pits, I saw that coach was one step ahead and had rigged the back up 9 meter CB………perfect!  We switched quickly and discussed some issues that we were having and noticed the level of tide.  It was now or never. The next run with the new kite at 2:22 felt good  but different…….I picked a good line but not too aggressive with the new kite….. its not fast if I loose it in the middle and kiss the wooden chop killer fence at over 50 knots.

 

As I crossed the finish line I saw 48 kts on the display………there we go and heard a yell from coach who’s voice carried nicely downwind in the 40 kts..

 

At 2:30 we punched another 48 kt run and now felt ready to put the coals to the new kite on the next run.

 

At 2:43, and with time running out for perfect conditions on the day, I saw Jamie make a seriously aggressive run, high at the start and committed……….I saw his line and he had rolled the dice perfectly……I gybed, checked the green flag at the start, pushed my foot deep into the straps and committed to my next run.  I smacked the start at over 48 kts knots and picked a high line against the chop killer…..the tide was really starting to suck lower now and was putting some heavy chop onto the course under a section of the chop killer…..I went defensive in the middle at 47 kts but picked it up to over 50 kts at the half way point.  As I approached the dog leg and final section of “World Record Alley” I applied full power to the board and saw the speeds increase to over 54kts as I headed for the 150 degree downwind finish……a nice little gust at the end and I crossed the line at over 49.5 kts……….things were getting good.

 

The course, my mind and the equipment felt ready now.  No time to change boards as the conditions were perfect and not going to last.  On my feet I had the #7 board…….not my favorite but she would have to do.

 

At 2:50 I was back at the top of the course but things had changed……the fickle and always confusing tide in the 2^nd lagoon had retreated and left a dry run up and entry area into the course.  The course had the required water depth but getting to the trench before the start with enough room to get the speed over 50 wasn’t a possibility now.  I had to wait and see if the tide would make a final push.  The start had to be over 50 kts if I wanted a 50.5 kts or better run.  For the next 20 minutes I waited at the top with one or 2 other riders and saw the tide move in and out.  I took a sight on the beach and knew what I needed for water depth.  I waited and waited, remembering coach’s words.  “Sometimes, snipers wait for hours, even days for one shot…….it only takes one shot.”

 

At 3.12 the water in 2^nd lagoon made its move and so did I.  Here she goes………full power for one last run.  I punished the staring line with the GPS reading over 51 kts and got a great piece of wind to carry me through to the middle of the course……..a quick drop in speed for the rough section to 47 kts and then max power to the Curtis fin and Mike Z. custom board and more sheet on the 9m Cabrinha Crossbow……. my speed jumped to 55 kts.   I knew we had something at this point and now I had to survive the bottom and keep the power on.  The bottom of the course felt good but my legs were shot after 3 hours of hard sailing.  As I headed down the final section I was physically unable to stand on the tail but managed to cross the line at over 52 kts.  I managed a quick peak at the display and saw a 50.5 go up and knew we had put ourselves in a position to win.

 

At approx. 10pm that night the official times were released and it had come down to Alex (F-21) and me for a new world record for kitesurfing.  At the end, I had recorded a new American record of 50.95 (.2 kts deduction for current) and Alex once again like déjà vu was quicker by .03 kts or less than 24 cm over the 500 meter course………amazing.  A true battle to the end and the birth of a true rivalry.

 

Final analysis of the run had me with the fastest max GPS run and the best start of gthe day but the 48 knot mistake in the middle had been a painful lesson.  My GPS recorded a 51.58 run over the 500 but a 50.95kt run over the course……….so close yet so far.  I am very happy to know that my 500 speed is world record caliber (Hydroptere 51.36) and tells us that we are close…..very close, healthy and ready for another historic opportunity in Africa.

 

Rob Douglas US-555

 

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