Annals of Achievement–Masters of Speed (Take 2): Windsurfer Finian Maynard and his gang of speed freaks are back at the “French Trench” in Camargue, trying to break the outright sailing speed record of 46.52 knots, held since 1993 by an otherworldly multihull called Yellow Pages Endeavour. Maynard came damn close in December, setting a new windsurfing speed record of 46.24 knots (averaged over 500 meters), but he and his pals won’t rest until they take the outright record back from the sailors. Earlier this week, Maynard knocked off a 45.76 knot run in the 1100 meter long, 15 meter wide canal, which is perfect for speed windsurfing because the wind howls across it and the water is flat. But the best winds came with an overnight storm that has the surfers considering the installation of lights so they can hit the water at any time when the breeze is promising. Yup, they are a determined group, and if they get lucky with the wind TWC predicts they will snatch this record back…



Finian Flying: “Oh Mama…Must..Hang…On…..”

(Photo: Roger von Tangeren)