The speed demons of the windsurfing world converged in the Canary Islands in July for their annual battle for top honours and the conditions did not disappoint! Pete Davis reports from the 2018 ISWC Speed World Championships in Fuerteventura and we hear from Andy Laufer, working dad of 3, on how he ended up as vice world speed champion! Finally, if you feel suitably inspired after reading all that to get your speed fix, world champion Zara Davis gives her tips for getting into speed sailing.
Pete Davis – “There has never been any denying it, Bjorn Dunkerbeck has always been one of the fastest sailors on the planet. Whilst known for dominating waves and slalom on the PWA tour in his heyday, not many people appreciate that Bjorn really loves speed sailing. Brought up in the Canaries, he took part in the golden years at Sotavento Beach on Fuerteventura in the 90s. Bjorn’s DNA has had speed genes pumping through his veins from a very young age, which has driven him to take himself off to new and established speed spots around the world. Surprisingly in 2004 he rocked up unannounced at Weymouth Speed week to sail at the birthplace of speed sailing, which gave the organisers a bit of a shock. But more interestingly, he’s visited far-flung locations like Mexico, Africa and Thailand, looking for a new speed paradise. He wasn’t selfish in this quest either. In 2006 he went to Namibia to check out Walvis Bay and together with Zara Davis they both set new world records for the Nautical mile, both of which still stand today.
In 2007 he put together the speed dream team made up of himself, Antoine Albeau, Anders Bringdal and Robbie Naish, the mission was called “The World Speed Sailing Challenge”. Their aim was to try and break the world record, held then by a boat, Yellow Pages, at 46.52 knots and ultimately take it to over 50 knots. Which eventually, apart from Robbie, they all did in Luderitz, Namibia in 2012. During this time he also won the speed sailing world championship title.
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