Luderitz Claims Victim

Rob’s best run was a dramatic, end of the day, tide going out event.  He waited near the top of the course for the best combination of wind and tide…the last competitor on the course of the day.  With the tide near minimum requirements, Rob was forced to sail in the newly dug speed trench for the entire 500m.

Rob With Pedal Down

Jamie posted his best run of 47.7 knots during Saturday’s competition in winds gusting 45knots.  Jamie’s success rate for completing runs has been low, many resulting in crashes near the bottom of the course.  With this speed Jamie became the 2^nd fastest American sailor in history…surpassing windsurfer Roddy Lewis (44.21 knots in Fuerteventura, Spain in 1995)  Still developing his stance and gaining more kite / board knowledge / control, Jamie is happy to have moved up in the overall event rankings…currently sitting in 6^th place.  The other American sailor is Mike Hall of St. Petersburg, Florida just a few places back.

Sunday brought less wind (35 knots) and a more square course as the wind backed into a southerly direction.  Rob won the day with a 50 knot + run out pacing Alex Caizergues (current world record kitespeed champion) of France who posted a run of around 48.5 knots, 2^nd place for the day.  The wind has now gone calm in Luderitz.  Competitive conditions probably won’t arrive until later in the week.

Jamie Approaching Finish Line

With these recent results Team Black Dog / NASSP currently are the two fastest sailors in US history.

Rob With Back to the Chopkiller at 50+

Saturday saw winds around 40-50 knots as forecasted.  Official speeds have just been released…Alex in 1^st with 50.97 (new kite record), Rob in 2^nd  and just behind with 50.95 (previous best was 50.54), and Seb. In 3^rd with 49.31knots.  Ideal water surface conditions existed at around 4pm when the winds were maxed.  9m kites fully lit.  These ideal water surface conditions exist for approximately 1 hour as the tide goes out and the lagoon becomes shallower.  Rob’s 2^nd place run was in the speed ditch…this means his back and shoulders were literally several feet away from the 1^st chop killer – an amazing feat while speeding at almost 60mph.  Not to overblow it but this speed course puts sailors on the razor’s edge.  The speed ditch, when the tide empties, is surrounded by a wooden fence and dry sand…the width of the speed ditch is approximately 4’.   WOW ! 

Jamie’s best run was in the neighborhood of 47.5knots (with a total of about 8 complete runs down the course in lifetime) and will be official in a few hours. 

Sunday’s forecast looks like lighter winds so it should be a good tuning day.  Check luderitz-speed.com for new from the official event website.

The NASSP team is just getting settled into the course after the 1^st full day of record conditions and will continue to push for higher speeds…one run at a time !

Heard the Vineyard had a good NE blow the last few days…with winds getting up to 40knots as well…sounds like speed sailing conditions in Cape Pogue.

Yesterday saw minimal Luderitz winds, averaging around 30knots.  The wind was slightly from the right, making the course more down wind…especially at the last section of the run.  Yesterday’s highest speed run was turned in by event organizer Sebastien Cattelan (46.29knots).  Rob is in 3^rd with 45.04knots.  Jamie is slotted in 9^th at 42.20knots.

Rob and Jamie crashed often, perhaps more than the other competitors due to several factors.  Wind strength (too light) and wind angle.  Sailing downwind in light winds is hard to do and requires a sensitivity not usually associated with speed sailing.  As the wind turns to the left, and makes the course more square (relatively speaking) this could favor team NASSP.  Being some of the biggest sailors in the event, a more square course will increase the feeling of pure power in the kites and boards.  This may allow Rob and Jamie to dig in, hang back and put the hammer down in a more consistent fashion throughout the runs.

Saturday’s forecast is for good, strong winds…up to and around 40knots.  This should put Jamie and Rob on their 9m kites.

  It is already blowing over 30knots here with about 80 degrees F.  Rob assures us that yesterday’s speeds will  be soon forgotten…as sailors push it to the 50 knot barrier today.  With this increased pressure (wind) the best sailors rise to the top.  Stay tuned…sailors hit the water at around 1pm local.  Over

The Best Food On the Planet ?

WSSRC rep. shows 18cm at Skipper

Rob Rips It Inside of the Chopkiller

Team NASSP remains idle in the Krabenhauf and Lampe Hotel in Luderitz.  Daily routines have included early morning walks out to Shark Island at the mouth of Luderitz Harbor, morning java and omelets at Diaz Coffee Shop, Vinyasa Yoga sessions, sailing site inspections of the ongoing work in 2^nd Lagoon, equipment tuning, occasional trips to the scenic Diaz Point lookout and sporadic movie watching at nights.  Last night competitors met up for a tuna brai (barbeque).  Mingling with the other competitors, working on our French, and enjoying the camaraderie of everybody has been a joy.

The last two days have seen serious modifications to the speed course.  (see picture of speed ditch / canal in previous blog).  Event organizers are attempting to make the course deeper (water depth) to comply with WSRRC water depth minimums- and flatter (improved chop killers / sand piles) to allow for faster top speeds.  The WSSRC has set a 18cm water depth minimum and at low tide the course is fully dry.  With the new speed ditch / canal (witch is approximately 4 feet wide) competitors may have the option to sail the ditch at lower tides, thus expanding the period of time available for potential record runs.

Jamie Grabs Tail For Photographer

Although continually fluctuating, the forecast looks promising for this weekend with some models showing winds in excess of 50knots for the 2^nd lagoon.  Possible record conditions could arrive on any of the next few days.  These winds would put competitors on 7m, 8m and 9m kites.  With this wind velocity the entire region becomes dusty and visibility is reduced.  These conditions require dust masks to be worn as sand sweeps down from the desert and blows out to sea.  Competitors and people on the beach must wear goggles to keep the eyes functioning.

With ideal water surface conditions and winds in excess of 35 knots sailors have their eyes set on a new outright world speed sailing record.  Favorites at this time include: Alex Caizergues, Sebastien Cattelan and of course Rob Douglas.  At this time…these three men are the only kiteboarders in the world to have achieved 50+ knot runs.  

Coach Gebi

The crazy Frenchmen Seb

Are you ready for some new speed sailing records this weekend.  The 2 week lull is about to end with an absolute certainty.  60 kts is forecasted for this weekend………with 3 days in excess of 50 kts.  Put the brain in the pocket!!!

The course or “trench” is now being built for the latest world record forcast.

The new course under construction

my new friend

After more than 10 days of very unusual wind and weather for Luderitz in November we finally have a good forecast for Friday and Saturday November 13th and 14th.

luderitz train station

The re-emergence of high pressure over Cape Town, better known by the locals as the “Cape Doctor” will produce the forecasted 35 to 40 knots of Southerly wind.

The tide in 2nd lagoon will be high at 1pm and the course have a good tide at 3pm local or 8am EST.

Diaz Coffee shop

Rob Scans the Speedstrip

After one official day of competition Rob Douglas is in 1st position.  The average speeds of his 2 best runs was 42.92 knots.  Wind speeds were light at 25knots and Rob was underpowered on his biggest kite, the 10m Crossbow.  Current rankings available at luderitz-speed.com

Not including the 1^st day of competition, winds have continue to be light and variable at the 2^nd Lagoon in Luderitz, Namibia.  Recent conditions have ranged from light and variable up to around 20 knots from the SSW.  Many competitors used these winds to free sail the event site on the above average high tides that have been flooding the tidal flats that are the event site.  The forecast remains light for the next few days.

The 2009 Luderitz Speed Challenge event was officially opened on Sunday November, 1^st.  Opening ceremonies included remarks by event organizer Sebastian Cattelan, FRA-69, and Luderitz town officials.  In its 3^rd consecutive year, the Luderitz Speed Challenge has helped to attract worldwide attention from the sailing community.  During the 2008 competition, 3 kitesurfers broke the 50knot barrier and set the outright speed sailing record…a major milestone for speed sailors across the globe.  A few months ago, this record was recaptured by the French catamaran “Hydroptere” at 51.34knots.  Organizers and competitors at this event are focused on retaking the outright sailing speed record.

The 2^nd Lagoon in Luderitz often experiences very strong winds, commonly in the range of 35 to 50 knots from the S-SW.  These winds cross the speed course at the optimum angle to allow kitesurfers to sail a very broad reach, approximately 130-140 degrees off of the wind.  

The speed course is regulation 500 meters in length and about 100 feet or so across, depending on the tide.  Because the 2^nd Lagoon is an almost flat wetland open to the Atlantic Ocean it experiences very unique tidal conditions.  Often times the water “pushes” up and receeds remarkably fast as it makes its way up and down the tidal range.

Therefore, tidal conditions vary almost constantly and competitors must adjust their tracks from run to run.  The official water depth requirement set by the WSSRC for this event is 18cm….just above ankle deep.

 Weather:  SSW 25kts with higher gusts on Nov. 1

Location : 2^nd lagoon

Ops Report:  R. Douglas and Gebhardt with new Team member Jamie Douglas were again dropped deep behind enemy lines and were quickly surrounded by the French.  The Team finished day 1 with a 2^nd place overall result with a 42.9 knot run a reported max GPS speed [redacted].

Equipment: Speed Boards and kites sizes used on day 1 were [redacted].

Damage to the number [redacted] board was reported from a high speed impact to the wooden chop killer (wooden fence designed to flatten sea surface conditions- pictured) at the bottom of the course.  As a result, carbon and epoxy dust are flying.  Repairs and continual modifications are underway.

The Curtis Fins were tested and sizes have been selected for the next 4 weeks.

WSSRC has set a new water depth requirement of 18cm.  This is an increase from last year’s requirement of 15cm.  This change will make sailors face larger chop and could potentially hamper top speeds as sailors are forced farther off shore.

Area of Operations forecast: weak SW flow thru Thursday. Will advise.

<<<JTAC Report – Bravo Lima 55>>>

 In country and boots on the ground.  We arrived on Wed. the 28^th, Little bro Jamie’s birthday…….to a solid 45kts south wind with gusts to 55 and jet lagged….not a good combo.

Thursday was windy too…….40kts + .  Team USA got on the water and worked on a few things…..new kites, new boards, new fins.  The new kites from c

Cabrinha kites look very impressive.  Pieces to the puzzle that will produce a new world record for America?????

 The forecast is weak for the next week! 

 Equipment tuning, exercise and mental prep is the daily regiment.

 Opening ceremonies were held this morning and the skipper’s meeting is tonight

 Team Black Dog will be ready!!!!!!  Daily updates to follow

<<<JTAC. Bravo Lima 555>>>

                            Orders have just arrived from Black Dog Corporate and its ultra covert Special Activities Division. (BDSAD) The NASSP team is directed to proceed to Luderitz, Namibia, Africa on October 26 2009 for mission Red Diamond.  Primary objectives: Recapture the outright world speed sailing record, set a new American overall record and test the speed gear.  The demolition target for this Op is Hydroptere’s (FRA) 51.34 knot WR, currently the world’s fast sailboat.

Initial intel reports suggests strong resistance in the mission area of operations

 PRELUDE BY JAMIE DOUGLAS  US-575

Rob US-55 (50.54knots) - the 2nd fastest kitesailor on earth and America’s fastest sailor asked me join Team NASSP to compete and train in the Kitesurfing Speed World Championships last year in France…… it didn’t take me long to comeback with my answer.   I just had to consider…could I help the team ?  Can I break the 50kt theshold………I say yes.  After hitting the speed course in Port St.Louis, France last spring I took a middle of the pack result with me……..Can I help the team in Luderitz…the fastest piece of water in the world ?  In this remote part of the African continent, time, high winds, shallow waters and competition will take its toll on the sailors.  Only the strongest, most well prepared sailors will be victorious.  I will push the team hard to recapture the outright world sailing speed record.  Team NASSP is stronger. 

EQUIPMENT-

All 2009 NASSP kiteboarding equipment is of the next generation.  The NASSP weapon locker is jammed packed with the best gear on planet earth.  Rob has selected only the most capable boards, kites, fins and accessory equipment from the industry’s most respected professionals and best companies………Cabrinha, Dakine, NPX wetsuits and Curtis fins. Improved speed boards straight out of the skunk works of shaper MZ  - Cabrinha’s kite designs based on the record setting Cabrinha Crossbow IDS from designer Pat Goodman have been built for highwind performance - Aircraft inspired fins from Curtis Hesselgrave will keep us straight and allow us to apply full power.   One of our primary mission sponsors, Bill Lynch of Lynch Associates has been sailing with us all summer and fall on the Vineyard.  To all of our sponsors and partners…many thanks…we will push it hard for the entire 4 weeks in country.

Coach Gebhardt US-45 is back.  Bringing with him an unmatched competitive experience level and history of success.  Equipment testing, diet, physcial and mental prepartion will be part of the daily grind in Luderitz.  Always remembering to apply the “Attitude of Gratitude”

Stay tuned to the blog as we will be updating it regularly while training continues on the
Vineyard this October in preparation for Luderitz - Nov 1 to 28.  Also check out the event website at speed-luderitz.com

J. Douglas -

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