Luderitz my first day

Great to be back in Luderitz.

We had some wind yesterday and it was great to get going.

I started with my Evo 5 5.8 on my Patrik Speed 43 but soon realised that there wasn't enough wind. after 2 runs I swapped to my 6.4 and had my fastest time just under 44 knots for 500m. Not great but good to get back used to the canal.

When being driven back up to the start I noticed everyone rushing over to the leeward side of the canal.    Sophie had a unbelievable crash being lifted 20m into the air by her kite and dumped on the hard sand. She is stable in hospital sustaining a badly broken leg, hopefully nothing more. The whole atmosphere around the canal changed, just felt sick in the stomach.

The course was closed and rightly so while the ambulance took Sophie to the hospital. It was opened again 1.5 hrs later for gps and half an hour after that for timing. I waited for the timing to re-open before  going back out but the wind was dying fast, just two more runs before the died.

I sailed only 5 runs and tried out 3 fins, the X type, XLS and prototype. I think I'll keep to the X type.

There were some good speeds done and posted on gps but the last time I looked at the timing board by the canal I was 4th fastest. That has certainly changed on gps but I don't know if they were done outside of the 500m timing when I wasn't on the water.

The forecast yesterday was for good winds Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday. know that has changed and it looks like we will only get wind tomorrow, slightly stronger than yesterday. Fingers crossed.

Take off before the corner into the course. boom!!

BBC INTERVIEW

This is a better clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-24750329

BBC Interview

There can't be much news around, the BBC asked if they could interview me before my trip to Namibia. When they say I hold the British 10m speed sailing record they meant to say the British gps 10 second record.

ITV tomorrow

Boom height luderitz

Why do you have a low boom speed sailing?

Sailing fast is all about taking your weight off the board and taken up by the sail. This reduces the drag on the board.

Historically tall sailors have been faster, not always the case though Eric Beale & Olivier Auge weren't the tallest but very fast, however they are out numbered by the tall fast sailors, Pascal Maka, Bjorn, Anders, Roddy Lewis.

Being tall allows your center of gravity to be out over the water and off the board. Lowering your boom does the same thing, it lets you hang out further over the water. Jurgen is the the best I've seen at this.

It isn't always the best option however. When the sea is rough you won't be able to keep control of the rig and the board will bounce all over the place.

Canal conditions are the only occasion when you can drop the boom real low. Also when the wind starts really blowing then you'll want to have more control with a more orthodox boom height.

Any more queries add a comment and I'll see if I can answer.

Luderitz 2013

One week tomorrow till I leave for Luderitz and with all the times posted I can't wait.

Lots of questions being bantered around, is the canal as fast, what equipment choice etc etc.

My thoughts so far from what I have seen (my thoughts / may be wrong in some peoples eyes / not meant to offend)

The canal looks better than last year, straighter and with a better cleaner windward edge. Speeds haven't been as fast yet but the big boys are still on their big toys. Antoine hit 50 knots with a 5.8, Patrik (mid 49's) is right up there on a 5.6 and Anders and Hans hit 49.

The windier it gets more often than not the wind swings broader and the rolling chop gets worse. If the chop gets up than you have to increase the size of your fin which slows you down, also the fact you are bouncing over chop will slow you down as well. So with Luderitz there is a compromise between wind speed, angle and your fastest run. If you can catch the right time between the wind increasing and getting broader before the chop get up your styling.

Is it easy to get top speeds in Luderitz? NO

I have heard a comment from one rider that it is easy to achieve fast speeds in Luderitz, we have to define a fast speed.

Everyone who hasn't sailed Luderitz before would get a faster time if they went, I'm pretty sure of that. Is it easy, you certainly don't just turn up and go. 50 knots is I believe what most people in the windsurf world are thinking of as a really top speed. I believe there are no more than 10 people in the world who can achieve that.

The first obstacle is that you have to have your gear spot on before you go. That's very difficult because you only get Luderitz conditions in Luderitz. You have to have some collaboration with others to get it right, that's easier this year as everyone knows what was used last year.

Luderitz canal is the fastest stretch of water we have but I have sailed on flatter water at West Kirby, Southend and even Fuerteventura and they are certainly not as daunting. It's not flat flat like a sheet of corrugated iron and I would say it's not easy.

Last year I travelled with 49 and 44cm boards and sails from 5.2 - 6.6, I never used the 5.2 or 6.6. My new fins got lost in the post so I only had a Black Project X45, 21.9cm long.

Equipment:

Sails: We know the Prydes and Loft sails are working well this year, we've also got to presume that Severne will be up there as per last year. I'll have the Evo 5.4, 5.8 & 6.4m2 sails.

Boards: Max size needed for me, 43cm, I'll also have a 41 and 39. (the 39 if it blows 55 knots) Antoine has a new 40 and 42 and I think from the pics something smaller, Anders and Jurgen a 39 and 41 (also something smaller), Patrik 37 and 39, Bjorn and Hans like to keep it all top secret (heads up, it's too late to give anyone an advantage, now share a little!)

Fins: There are two camps here, narrow swept or small triangle. Last year Antoine, Anders, Patrik were narrow swept, Bjorn and Jurgen small triangle. Antoine has stated that his 18cm from last year is the fastest so far this year. My starting choice will be the Black Project X55 (19.3cm) in the 41cm board and X50 (20.4cm) in the 43. I'll change to test the XLS 17.3cm and 16.5.

Every part of your setup can make a huge difference that is why I have tried to take some of the need to test out of my setup equation. My Neil Pryde Evo 5's are tested and we know they are fast, my PATRIK DIETHELM boards are shaped by not only one of the fastest men in the world but also the only shaper to sail the Luderitz canal and a history of shaping world record boards stretching back years. I have a fin quiver of 8 ranging from 16cm to 20cm in 3 different styles which is the only thing I'll have to experiment with.

Fingers crossed,

Can I be one of those to record over 50 knots - I hope so. I think I can but only time will tell.
Have I the best equipment there is - YES
Am I in shape - Yes (I didn't say what shape) I'm 5kg lighter than last year which I hope will get me into the run quicker.

Choosing a Fin

Black Project fins asked me what goes into choosing a fin?


The smallest fin you get away with will be the fastest.

Some sailors swap and change all the time, I know within the first broad reach if a fin is going to work or not.

To get the fastest fin you have to consider, sail size, water state, board size, angle to wind your runs will be.

Asymmetric fins are the fastest but only one way.

The broader the course the more rake you want on the fins leading edge, the tighter the course you want a more upright fin.

In luderitz we are sailing on a man made canal 4m wide and about as flat as you can get, I’ll be using my Patrik Diethelm 41cm board with a 16 – 18 cm asymmetric fin. Type X or XLS. Sail size 5.4 to 6.4

In somewhere like Port St Louis the course is very tight, I would use a more upright slalom fin on a larger board Patrik Diethelm 49cm or 53cm with Type R 26-28cm. Sail size 5.4 to 7m

In Fuerteventura I would use a more swept fin like the Type S 26.5 on Patrik Diethelm 43cm or 49 board. Sail size 5.4 to 7m

In Karpathos I would use either Type R or RS 26-30 cm on a Patrik Diethelm 53cm board

The bigger the board the more fin choice there is, on a 110 ltr slalom board I could use 32 – 78 cm fins Type R, RS or S.

The smaller the board the more perfect the conditions have to be.

Horses for courses.

2013 CV / LUDERITZ IS COMING

Countdown has really started for Luderitz 2013, a lot of new and old speedsters will be there. Luderitz is now the meca for speed, with no more world cup events everybody is tuning up specifically for the outright windsurfing speed record. Hopefully we will get a world championships again to run along side record attempts. Looking back over my windsurfing career I sure have entered enough of them.
Curriculum Vitae

Name Martyn Ogier

Address Coin du Pecheur
Rue de la Maladerie
St Saviours
Guernsey
GY7 9RA
Great Britain

Email martynogier@cwgsy.net
Blog http://martynogier68.blogspot.com
Nationality British
Height 6’7”
Weight 240 Ibs / 110 kg

Sponsors
Billabong Wetsuits
Neil Pryde Sails
Patrik Diethelm Boards
Black Project Fins
Flying Objects
Chinnook

Results

2012
British GPS Speed Record
Max speed 50.20 knots
2nd British Speed Championships Weymouth
Top 10 GPS Speedsailing all time average speed

2011
49.5 knots max speed recorded Oct 7th 2011
2nd British Speed Sailing Championships
2nd UK leg of the European Speed Windsurfing Tour
5th Swedish leg of the European Speed Windsurfing Tour

2010 ISWA World Rankings
1st Anders Bringdal
2nd Martyn Ogier
3rd Bjorn Dunkerbeck

2010
2nd ISWA World Rankings
1st International Sailor German speed championships
3rd Weymouth International Speed Week Professional windsurfer

2009
After 12 years out of competitive sailing, I decided to I missed it too much and decided to return to international competition.
World ranking is now based on a roll over system from month to month leading to a final placing for the year.
20th World ranking after Weymouth (Highest ranked British sailor)
22nd Port St. Louis Speed Week (Highest ranked British sailor)
44th World ranking after 1 event (Highest ranked British sailor)
26th World ranking after Karpathos World Championships
4th Weymouth International Speed Week (Highest ranked British sailor)

1999
Retired

1998
Retired from speed sailing and concentrated on the exposure side of professional windsurfing

1997
8th Overall PBA Speed Tour (Highest ranked British sailor)
9th St Marie de la Mer Speed Week (Highest ranked British sailor)
11th Port Leucate speed week
13th Fuerteventura Speed Week (2nd Highest ranked British sailor)
Top 500m course speed 42.09 Knots 1997 Fuerteventura

1996
13th Overall PBA Speed Tour (2nd Highest ranked British sailor)
13th St Marie de la Mer Speed Week (2nd Highest ranked British sailor)

1995
10th Overall PBA Speed Tour (Highest ranked British sailor)
13th Tarifa O’Neil Speed World Cup
1994
2nd O’Neil Sail Sprint West Kirby
Back injury (2 slipped discs & spent 3 months lying flat - I thought I would never sail again)
1993
14th Fuerteventura Speed Week (2nd Highest ranked British sailor)
15th Overall PBA Speed Tour (2nd Highest ranked British sailor)
1992
4th Equal Overall PBA Speed Tour (Highest ranked British sailor)
3rd Brest Speed Week (Highest ranked British sailor)
9th Fuerteventura Speed Week (Highest ranked British sailor)

1991
7th Overall IWSA Speed Tour (Highest ranked British sailor)
5th Brest Speed Week (Highest ranked British sailor)

1990
10th Overall IWSA Speed Tour
2nd Tiree Wave Classic Expression Session