A TWENTY-SEVEN times National Windsurfing Champion from north county Dublin has become the first ever Irish sailor to break the 50-knot speed barrier.
Oisín van Gelderen, from Loughshinny, achieved the feat during his final week competing at the Luderitz World Speed Sailing Challenge in Namibia, Africa.
Van Gelderen joined the fastest sailors in the world for the last three weeks in Luderitz, with the aim of increasing his Irish Sailing Speed record (measured over 500m), and trying to break the elusive 50-knot barrier. The Luderitz course (a canal dug in a lagoon at the edge of the desert) has been specially designed to take advantage of the gale to storm force winds common in this part of Africa.
Van Gelderen significantly improved his record, on his second day at the event, in winds gusting 90kph (Beaufort Force 9 – Strong to Severe Gale). But it wasn’t until last week that he reached his aim: he exceeded 50 knots, hit a high of 50.8knots (94kph) and set an official World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) ratified National record of 47.97 knots (88.85kph) over 500m. Speaking about his achievements, Van Gelderen said: "With the experience I have now gained, and the changes I made to technique and tuning, I know I could possibly do a 50-knot 500m run, but for now I'm very happy.
“It's only with the experience of doing it, that I can work out what is possible.
“I have peaked seven times over 50 knots (50.8), achieved my goal of setting a respectable record, and I can leave Luderitz very proud, knowing I put everything into it."