Antoine Albeau, a 52-year-old windsurfer from La Rochelle, France, achieved a significant milestone by driving his windsurfing equipment at a speed of 53.49 knots (99.06 kilometers per hour) during the Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia. This new record was set on the event’s specialized speed strip.
Albeau used a 5.3 NeilPryde sail and last year’s JP custom board to surpass his previous record of 53.27 knots (98.65 kilometers per hour), established at the same venue in 2015. The improvement of 0.22 knots highlights Albeau’s continuing excellence in the sport. His fastest run was measured at two different speeds: 53.71 knots using his GPS and 53.64 knots on the event’s timing device. Official validation, based on video verification, confirmed the new world record.
Albeau expressed his elation after the achievement, stating, “It was an incredible feeling when they announced the time. I had hoped to beat the old record by a small margin, but the final result exceeded my expectations.” He described the day as unforgettable and noted the gap between his previous and new record times as especially satisfying.
The achievement was made possible using cutting-edge equipment, including the JP Speed 40 prototype board from last year and a newly designed 5.3 prototype speed sail by Robert. Albeau praised the sail as “amazing,” crediting it for its role in the record-breaking run. Wind conditions during the attempt were estimated at 40-45 knots, contributing to the record-setting environment.
Looking ahead, Albeau aims to break the 100-kilometer-per-hour barrier, a goal that now lies just 0.51 knots (0.96 kilometers per hour) away.
December 1, 2024, proved to be a landmark day for other windsurfers as well, with several breaking personal and national records. Notably, Jenna Gibson from the United Kingdom set a new women’s windsurfing speed world record at 47.58 knots (88.11 kilometers per hour), surpassing Heidi Ulrich’s 2022 record of 47.16 knots (87.34 kilometers per hour).
The 2024 Luderitz Speed Challenge, which began on November 4, will continue until December 8, showcasing the incredible achievements of athletes from around the globe.