Speed world challenge sailing 2003

Björn Dunkerbeck

The Event
The Challengers will eventually travel to Southern France’s Mediterranean Sea and onto the shores of New Zealand’s Pacific coastline, leaving nothing to chance, in their search for just the right wind and water conditions that need to be almost perfect, if the record is to be broken.

The world record has now stood since 1993 and although with many millions of dollars spent and countless new technological developments applied, no one has been able to go faster for a decade.

Robby Naish

The Mission
The 1st mission of the Challengers will be to shatter the current record of 46.52 knots (86.16km/h or 53.53mph) and return it thereby to the windsurfers, which held it previously with 45.35 knots.

The 2nd mission and the perhaps most coveted price of any sailor will be to break the 50 knot barrier. Some consider it impossible, the Challengers however see it definitely within their reach.

WSSRC Commissioner Ellison

The World Sailing Speed Record Council
Under the jurisdiction of the International Sailing Federation and the watchful eye of a Commissioner of the World Sailing Speed Record Council, the Challengers will sail over a 500-meter distance, during which the average speed is determined.

The WSSRC was established by the ISAF in 1972. The object was to provide impartial results for increasing numbers of claims to high speed sailing craft (on water: never on ice nor land!).

In 1988 following several controversial claims about the times and status of long voyages, WSSRC was asked to take over additionally offshore sailing records.

Now in 2003 the organization has a full time Secretariat. Hardly a day goes by without some form of activity in what is now a separate and increasing branch of the sport of sailing.

The Wind
The three locations for the World Speed Sailing Challenge 2003 were not chosen by coincidence, but rather due to their historically proven track record for the most powerful seasonal winds on the planet.

Wind on the open water or shorelines differ from the smoothed-out forecast. Wind in the real world accelerates down valleys, bumps about abutments and becomes contorted by a wiggly coastline.

During a clear night, the land cools quickly so that wind near the ground becomes sluggish. During a quiet sunny day, the land heats quickly and air is drawn onshore (sea breezes). Terrain effects can halve or double the forecast wind.

There is also a phenomenon which has been called "rivers of wind" : These occur over the sea at the downwind end of a long range of mountains. These rivers are strongest when there is a HIGH on the weather map and isobars are drawn across the mountains. The wind can not follow the isobars through the mountains, and a HIGH may restrict airflow up and over the mountains, so that a lot of the air that collects up-wind of the mountain chain can only exit around the ends or through the gaps... and this wind blows best once it reaches the open sea.

Macquarie Innovation

The World Record
The world record was established back in 1993 at Sandy Point, Australia by Simon McKeon and his vessel Yellow Pages’ Endeavour, a trimaran.

After setting the record, the Yellow Pages team decided to continue to push the limits of speed sailing. A new craft, "Macquarie Innovation" was designed and constructed in an attempt to be the first ever to break the 50 knot barrier, but has never reached that goal yet.

Based on the same concept as "Yellow Pages Endeavour", Macquarie Innovation is the culmination of all the design lessons learnt from the Yellow Pages. It continues to be extensively tested both in computer simulations as well as in a flow tank at the Australian Maritime Engineering facility in Tasmania

Peter Bogner

The Organization
From a prestigious skiing dynasty and no less passionate about sailing, Peter Bogner the Chief Executive of the Bogner Organization brings his media experience and his management skills to the speed challenge. He says his strategies for sailing and running a business intersect at the point of using speed and state-of-the-art technologies to reinforce leadership. Peter can be contacted via e-mail: peter@wssc.ws

Markus Kappenhagen

Markus Kappenhagen a partner of the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie will assure the Speed Sailing Challenge smooth sailing and compliance with WSSRC & ISAF statutes. His favorite sailing locations are in the South of France and the North Sea. His own speed sailing experience was made with the Meltemi in the Aegean Sea. Dr. Kappenhagen can be reached via e-mail: counsel@wssc.ws

Dr. Charles 'Cas' Soma M.D

From the surf, to the clinic, to the operating room and back again, Maui based Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Charles ‘Cas’ Soma M.D. , supports the World Speed Sailing Challenge with advanced healing technologies applying thoughtful consideration for a complementary holistic approach to injury prevention and treatment. Postoperative computerized electrostimulation to speed muscle rehabilitation and extracorporeal shock wave therapy for tendinitis are just two examples of his innovative approach to the treatment of the extreme athlete/speedsailor. Dr. Soma can be contacted via e-mail: cassoma@hawaii.rr.com



source The Official Site

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