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US sailor - Fastest man alive...Again

Two years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing kiteboarder Robert Douglas, a Martha's Vineyard native, after he became the fastest man alive on a kiteboard. Shortly thereafter, French rider Alex Caizergues broke Douglas' record by a mere 0.3 knots. Flash forward a year and history repeated itself, to a tenth of a knot, as Caizergues once again trumped Douglas...by a mere 0.3 knots.

Imagine my happy smile today when I received a text from Douglas, all the way from Namibia, where he is participating in the 2010 Luderitz Speed Challenge.

Just a few weeks ago Caizergues set a new outright speed record of 54.1 knots, but today—thanks to 45-knot winds combing 'the Trench'—Douglas has reclaimed his crown after clocking in at a mind-numbing 55.65 knots.

Rob Douglas 55.65 knots  Adrien Freville

While this has yet to be ratified by the WSSRC, the more interesting question remains: with this year's event wrapping up on Halloween, will Caizergues somehow pull a juggernaut move and again usurp Douglas' record?

Meanwhile, the calculators have been put away and the corrected-time winners of the Rolex Middle Sea Race have been established. Hats off to Bryon Ehrhart's TP52 team Lucky (USA) for taking top honors in the IRC Overall.

In the Velux 5 Oceans Race, it's quickly becoming obvious that the real action is between Brad Van Liew, the current leader, and Polish skipper Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski. Currently, Van Liew and Gutek are leading the rest of the fleet by several hundred miles as the fleet approaches the equator.

Next up is the start of the Route du Rhum, which starts on October 31 at 1302 hours off of Saint Malo, France. Eighty-seven boats are currently registered, and, given the race's reputation as a boat eater, it will be interesting to watch this solo transatlantic sprint to Pointe à Pitre (in the Lesser Antilles) play out.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt,Sail-World USA Editor

World Speed Record broken twice - now 55.65 knots + Video x 3 Luderitz Speed Challenge, Ludertiz Speed Challenge Namibia - The wind blew up to 45 knots today and the organisers decided to built a retaining wall after the finish of the run to keep the water in at low tide. This paid huge dividends today and many records were smashed !... [more] Share this story

Sail-World Mailbag: The Week that Was - Olympic Decisions Sail-World Readers, Sail-World readers comment on the Olympic decisions for November - following the 'Olympic Decision - will ISAF get caught by a Yorker?' and the earlier 'Olympic sailing destined for another major jolt at Athens in November'. You can have your say by clicking on the reply form on the bottom of http://www.sail-world.com/NZ/Gladwells-Line:-Olympic-Decision---will-ISAF-get-caught-by-a-Yorker?/75967!th... [more] Share this story

ISAF announces appointment of Int Jury for the 34th America's Cup International Sailing Federation, The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) today announced the appointment of the International Jury for the 34th America's Cup. The 34th America's Cup Match is planned to be held in 2013, with lead up events commencing in 2011. A new class of boat, a 72 foot wing sail catamaran is currently being developed as is a new shorter race format.... [more] Share this story

ISAF World Match Race Rankings - 27 October 2010 ISAF, World Match Racing Tour - The top three skippers on the open rankings remain the same with this ranking release, with Adam Minoprio (NZL) holding off the advances of Ben Ainslie. The real action is in the women's rankings where Nicky Souter (AUS) returns to the 1 position ahead of 2010 World Champion Lucy MacGregor (GBR).... [more] Share this story

Opinion: Will ISAF get trapped by political concessions for 2016 ? Markus Schwendtner, A lot has been written about the ISAFs Olympic Commissions report and the resulting Executive Committee submission in the last weeks. There is no doubt that the Olympic Commission has done an outstanding job by firing the first bullets on some of ISAFs holy cows, however there is still a huge risk that the final decision makers inside ISAF fail half way up the hill.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup Event Authority CEO talks to Valencia Sailing ValenciaSailing.com, Top European sailing website, ValenciaSailing.com continues a series of interviews with the people in charge of shaping the 34th America's Cup in line with the vision of the current Defender, its owner Larry Ellison and its CEO Russell Coutts. We spoke with Craig Thompson, CEO of the America's Cup Event Authority, the body in charge of everything related to the pinnacle event of the sport, except... [more] Share this story

Bullimore's 33m catamaran capsized - UPDATE Sam Nelson, Tony Bullimore's 33m catamaran capsizes off Cape Finistere. Update: Ben Jones (29): 'There wasn't that much wind-only about 15knots. We were sailing fast and close to the wind. We then had a big gust and because it's a multi hull, the apparent wind induces a much worse affect.... [more] Share this story

Audi MedCup Circuit - Quantum Racing Team name helm for 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit, Audi MedCup Circuit 2011 news: True to the succession planning of a world championships winning team, America's Cup winner Baird was present as an observer with the team in Cagliari at the final event of the 2010 Audi Med Cup season, now official confirmation arrives that Ed Baird will take over the helm next season... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: One year to go - Knut Frostad reflects Volvo Ocean Race Media, With one year remaining until the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race begins with the In-Port race in Alicante, much is in place and a lot is still to be done. CEO Knut Frostad discusses preparations for the grand departure and explains why he feels this will be one of the closest races ever.... [more] Share this story

Busan Cup Women's Match Race - Into the Quarter Finals WIMRA, The sailors and Race Committee had their hands full with a long and shifty day on day 2 at the Busan Cup Women's Match Race.... [more] Share this story

Perth 2011 warm up attracts international superstars Tessa Parkinson, Perth 2011 warm up attracts international superstars - The PIR has attracted 230 boats from over 40 nations and commences in just three weeks' time from 16 to 21 November 2010. Athlete entries include triple Gold and Silver Olympic Medallist Ben Ainslie from Great Britain, six of the current World Champions and four 2010 ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award Finalists.... [more] Share this story

ICSA Midterm president's report Mitch Brindley, ICSA Midterm president's report - The fleets of lasers and laser radials are arriving this week. Of course this season will mark an important change from fleet racing to a match format for the ICSA Sloop National Championship.... [more] Share this story

Route du Rhum - New challenges for the Professor and a Benjamin Gaia Coretti, Route du Rhum - Christopher Pratt is unequivocal. His dream of becoming a solo ocean racer was born twenty years ago when he vividly remembers watching the victory of Florence Arthaud into Gaudeloupe, the flares, the lights, the excitement, the history.... [more] Share this story

Velux 5 Oceans Fleet is lining up for the first timed run of the race Velux 5 Oceans, The Velux 5 Oceans fleet continues to spread out as the five ocean racers head towards the Equator and their first timed run of the race. At the front of the fleet Brad Van Liew and Zbigniew Gutkowski have been reaping the rewards for taking a more westerly route out into the Atlantic, increasing the gap between them and Derek Hatfield in third to some 300 nautical miles... [more] Share this story

Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai - Preparations nearly complete Bruno Troublé, Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai - The final Louis Vuitton Trophy event is scheduled to start in Dubai on November 12th, featuring six of the top international sailing teams in the world.... [more] Share this story

RS:X Youth World Championships: The pressure mounts... RS:X Class, RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships - We're getting winds from every direction except the usual one. Today it was from the East at 13-14 knots. Racing started promptly at 1200hrs and it was Izzy Hamilton who immediately re-established that she is going to be hard to beat. Here's why..... [more] Share this story

China Cup Int Regatta 2010 hits a speed bump... in the garage Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia, The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club was a-hummin' and a-buzzin' this evening, with all the crews in town – many of them overseas – for the opening cocktails and the skippers' briefing for tomorrow's passage race from Hong Kong to Longcheer, Daya Bay, Shenzhen, the opening event of the CCIR.... [more] Share this story

Bullimore's 33m catamaran capsized - Seven crew rescued Barry Pickthall, Seven British based sailors were successfully airlifted off the 33m racing catamaran 'Spirit of Antigua' late on Wednesday night after capsizing in the Bay of Biscay, 135 miles south west of Brest.... [more] Share this story

Louis Vuitton Trophy – Preparations nearly complete in Dubai Louis Vuitton Trophy WSTA, The final Louis Vuitton Trophy event is scheduled to start in Dubai on November 12th, featuring six of the top international sailing teams in the world. With the regatta just over two weeks away, staff from the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA), a co-organiser of the event along with Louis Vuitton and the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), are on the ground and hard at work... [more] Share this story

2010 Student Yachting World Cup - North American teams in the chase Guy Perrin, The Student Yachting World Cup started in 1979 when some students at the Ecole Polytechnique in France were participating in the first Tour de France à la Voile, others decided to organize an European race for students. The 'Course de l'Europe' was born but only a few European countries participated. When other teams joined in, from around the world, the European race turned into a real World Cup.... [more] Share this story

Melges 24 Worlds 2011 – Online registration now open International Melges 24 Class Association, Melges 24 World Championship 2011 being hosted by Corpus Christi Yacht Club, Corpus Christi, Texas from May 11-21, has today opened registrations online via the event website. Famed for its great sunshine and strong winds Corpus Christi is the perfect Melges 24 sailing venue and the fleet is looking forward to a big turnout for this it's 14th World Championship... [more] Share this story

Monsoon Cup 2010 - Robertson a threat - wins Asian Championship title Monsoon Cup Media 2010, New Zealander Phil Robertson showed today why he has the scalps of some of the top guns on the ISAF World Match Racing circuit hanging on his belt.... [more] Share this story

Finn - outstanding display of sailing skills and athleticism Robert Deaves - IFA, Based largely on the Olympic Commission report, the ISAF Executive has since published two submissions which outline an exciting new future for the selection and decision making process for Olympic sailing events and equipment. The Finn is positioning itself to be part of that future.... [more] Share this story

Busan Cup Women's Match Race - Day 1 WIMRA, Very exciting first day in Busan for the third edition of the Busan Cup Women's Match Race. Principal Race Officer Peter 'Luigi' Reggio (USA) and his team including WIMRA Asia Representative, Junko Takano (JPN) worked hard and ran 10 flights of races for the 12 teams.... [more] Share this story

2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships - Positive response ISAF, The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has received a very positive response to the request for preliminary bids to host the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, which brings together the World Championships of all the events included in the Olympic Sailing Competition.... [more] Share this story

Farr 30 World Championship 2010 - Pre-World action Farr 30 Class Association, Farr 30 World Championship 2010 - Two-time Tour De France a la Voile winner Courrier Dunkerque sent a statement to the fleet today and Monday with a dominant victory in the 5-race pre-worlds series in conditions that ranged from 30-knot thunderstorms to sunny, 5-knot zephyrs.... [more] Share this story

RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships - Can he do it again? Rory Ramsden, This battle is going to go right down to the wire which is from where Michalis snatched the 2009 RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships. 'Will he do it again?' may be the question on Thomas' mind.... [more] Share this story

China Cup International Regatta - Chicago sailors compete this weekend Christie Denson, China Cup International Regatta - Chicago Yacht Club sailors are competing as one of two U.S. teams represented at the China Cup International Regatta, held this weekend October 29 through November 1 in Shenzhen, located on the coast of the South China Sea,.... [more] Share this story

Velux 5 Oceans Fleet take on biggest challenge yet: the Doldrums Velux 5 Oceans, The competition - and the weather - is really starting to hot up as the Velux 5 Ocean fleet press south towards the Equator. After ten days of sailing which have seen the fleet encounter a host of weather conditions from frustrating, light breeze to strong winds and high seas, the five ocean racers have their biggest challenge of the leg so far ahead of them: the Doldrums.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race – Down to the wire in Malta Regatta News, Rolex Middle Sea Race update, Wednesday October 27th: If you have any interest in peering at a yacht tracker incessantly, you would have surely been following the track of the J/122 Artie in the Rolex Middle Sea Race last night.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Richard Worth explains the New Media Deal Richard Gladwell, Last Friday, Richard Worth, newly appointed to the role of Chairman, Management Board America's Cup Event Authority, was on stage at the Briefing for Prospective Competitors for the 34th America's Cup.The meeting took place in Paris and was the first chance for many of the prospective teams to hear from first hand Worth, and Regatta Director Iain Murray.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: We're doing 36kts..We've got no steering..Video Volvo Ocean Rce Media, There are just 367 sleeps left until the start of the next Volvo Ocean Race. When a TV show is made, pure necessity dictates that only a fraction of the footage is actually broadcast. Over the coming months we'd like to bring you some of these extraordinary moments in a new video series called 'Volvo Ocean Race Redux'.... [more] Share this story

Louis Vuitton Trophy: All4One joins six other teams for Dubai All4One, After finishing the Audi MedCup circuit with three podium places in five events, the next and final sailing stage in 2010 for ALL4ONE will be the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai from 12 to 27 of November. This regatta will show once again top-level competition and spectacular duels between worlds best teams racing in pairs of supplied even America's Cup Class boats. The entry list gathers the top te... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race - Feeling lucky? Alex Bocage, Rolex Middle Sea Race - The group of boats that arrived at the finish line in Marsamxett Harbour this afternoon spent most of the 606 miles within reach of each other, and how they made some key tactical decisions along the way would make or break their results. Leading the pack was E1, followed two hours later by Wild Joe, Lucky, Pace, and Cantankerous all within a half hour of each other.... [more] Share this story

Route du Rhum - The Architect of his own success Gaia Coretti, Route du Rhum - Tanguy De La Motte has long and very fond memories of the Route du Rhum start days, having been a regular visitor since he was a babe in arms of six months old. As yacht design student at Southampton Institute in 1998 he took two weeks off ‘school' to help Ellen MacArthur in the dash to prepare the 50 foot former Aqua Quorum for her first Route du Rhum.... [more] Share this story

PCCSC Match Race Championship 2010 Danielle M. Richards, PCCSC Match Race Championship - Saturday: Seven teams arrived at Balboa Yacht Club for the first annual Championship. The Newport/Balboa Sailing and Seamanship Association made available their pristine fleet of Governor 21, boats purpose built for match racing. After a competitors briefing and boat draw teams were towed out to the ocean for a short practice time and the start of the round robin.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race - Passage at Pantelleria Island images Sail-World & Carlo Borlenghi mages, Rolex Middle Sea Race - Passage at Pantelleria Island. Images from master photographer Carlo Borlenghi.... [more] Share this story

Velux 5 Oceans - First blood spilt Velux 5 Oceans, Velux 5 Oceans Polish ocean racer suffers deep cuts to forehead as fleet heads south. It has been another day of drama for the skippers as they head further south. Following on from a manic day on the water yesterday which saw Polish ocean racer Zbigniew ‘Gutek' Gutkowski became the first skipper to sustain a notable injury after slicing his head open on the blade of his wind generator.... [more] Share this story

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