Lüderitz Speed Challenge: Almost 90 km/h despite 'weak' wind

The wind has not yet shown its strongest side and is blowing from a bad angle. And yet the speed windsurfers are racing along the shallow water channel near the coastal town of Lüderitz in southern Namibia at speeds of almost 90 kilometres per hour.

Multiple world champion Antoine Albeau from France achieved an average speed of 88.93 km/h (48.07 knots) yesterday on the 500 metre measuring course. The world record is 98.55 km/h (53.27 knots). Albeau set it at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2015.

Speed windsurfing legend Björn Dunkerbeck from the Netherlands broke the 100 km/h sound barrier in terms of top speed in 2021. He maintained 103.67 km/h for two seconds. Over a distance of 100 metres, his average speed was 101 km/h.

At this speed, a fall would have drastic consequences. You have to know exactly what you're doing and be able to rely on your equipment 100 per cent, the Dutchman explained to the online portal Surfer Today: "I try not to crash at that speed because if you do, your day is over."

In this video on YouTube, Dunkerbeck explains the five factors that have to work together ideally to make a speed record possible, accompanied by impressive footage.

The Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2023 started on 31 October and runs until 26 November. According to media reports, in addition to Albeau and Dunkerbeck, the 150 or so speed windsurfers include world-class athletes such as Gunnar Asmussen (Germany), Farrell O'Shea (Great Britain), Roger Ornvang (Sweden) and Marc Grinnell (South Africa).

Sven-Eric Stender