Masters of Speed–Oh So Close…: Finian Maynard and his merry band of windsurfing speed freaks had another big day at the French Trench late last week. The six windsurfers are out to break Yellow Pages Endeavour’s sailing speed record of 46.52 knots and came within a hair (again) of doing it. The six windsurfers ripped off 140 runs over ten hours, in winds that built to 38 knots. Maynard had the top run at 46.20 knots, and is convinced that if the best winds hadn’t come at the end of the day (when the sailors were so tired they could barely grip their booms) the record would be back in a windsurfer’s hands. Top instantaneous speeds hit 48-49 knots (the record is an average speed over 500 meters), so these guys were f*cking flying. Maynard guarantees that they will break the record sometime soon, and he is dead serious. The team has just installed lights at the canal so they can sail in the dark if they have to. Fifty knots on a windsurfer, at night. Hmmm….



Maynard at 46 Knots: “We’ve been trying to break this stupid record for months, and is it just me, or are my arms getting longer?”

(Photo: Jean Souville)