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.
Denne historien er fra Issue 379 - September 2018-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 379 - September 2018-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
