Salt and Speed - Kitesurfing world sailing speed record attempt

by Tanguy Blondel on 11 Mar 2013 Salt and Speed is a sailing speed record attempt being held in Salins-de-Giraud, southern France. The two kitesurfers involved are actively preparing for the off. In this way, Thursday and Friday will see them open proceedings for the second edition of the event. Some boisterous weather conditions are expected on site with over 40 knots of breeze forecast.

Initially the two riders are seeking to improve on the World Sailing Speed record for kitesurfing currently held by Rob (55.65 knots), before attempting to up the ante with a 60-knot average speed over 500 metres.

Alexandre Caizergues:
- Born on 14 March 1979
- 3 x World Speed Champion (2007, 2008, 2009)
- 2 x World Speed Record all categories combined in 2008 and 2010
- 2 x World Kite Speed Record in 2007 and 2009
- 2 x FFVL (French Free Flight Federation) French Speed Champion
- European Long Distance Number Two 2008
- World Speed Number Two 2006
- first man to break 100 km/hr on the water, propelled by the wind
- Partners: Ouest Provence – AlpEnergie par GDF SUEZ - Volkswagen Véhicules Utilitaires (Commercial Vehicles) – Zenith – Sosh.

Rob Douglas:
- Born on 16 June 1971
- World Speed Record all categories combined in 2011 with 55.65 knots and 49.84 knots in 2008
- World Speed Champion 2012
- Partners: The Black Dog - Cabrinha - Lynch Associates - NPX - Dakine - Curtis Fins- Mike's Lab custom boards

In figures:
65.45 knots: Sailrocket 2 November 2012
55.65 knots: Rob Douglas 28 October 2010 Namibia
55.49 knots: Seb Cattelan 28 October 2010 Namibia
54.10 knots: Alexandre Caizergues 12 October 2010 Luderitz, Namibia exceeding 100km/hr
51.36 knots: Hydroptère on 6 September 2009
50.57 knots: Alexandre Caizergues 4 October 2008 Luderitz, Namibia
50.26 knots: Seb Cattelan 3 October 2008 Luderitz, Namibia
49.84 knots: Rob Douglas 19 September 2008 Luderitz, Namibia
49.09 knots: World Speed Record Antoine Albeau 5 March 2008 in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France
46.82 knots: Record set by windsurfer Finian Maynard in the autumn of 2004, bringing an end to the hegemony of the sailboat Yellow Pages in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France
46.52 knots: Yellow Pages Endeavour in 1993 at the Sandy Point spot, Australia
38.86 knots: Pascal MAKA the first windsurfer to rack up a new official record with 38.86 knots in Sotavento
26.30 knots: Crossbow Catamaran in Portland in 1972

The outright World Sailing Speed Record is the best average speed over 500m by a sail-powered contraption… As such it is different to a peak speed!