Vestas Sailrocket world record attempt

The Vestas Sailrocket team has been attempting to break the World Speed Sailing record in Namibia, but due to the prevailing conditions the endeavour ended in disappointment.

Skippered by Paul Larsen, the Vestas Sailrocket was hoping to challenge the likes of kite surfers and high tech trimarans, but couldn't quite sustain the pace and fell less than two knots short of the record (the average speed is taken over 500 metres). The vessel also flipped more than once - see video below.

The World Speed Sailing record was previously set by Alex Caizergues in 2008, where he kitesurfed to an average speed of 50.57 knots, also in Namibia.

This was then eclipsed by the 60ft tri-foiler Hydroptere, which recorded 51.36 knots.

Vestas Sailrocket skipper Paul Larsen had this to say: "Well, it looks like it's over. Today was officially the last day of our record attempt. The wind wasn't forecast to blow... and it didn't. Soon we will be packing up VESTAS Sailrocket for the last time on the lawns of the Walvis Bay Yacht Club.

"Yesterday I felt pretty choked up at the end of our last run. We topped 50 knots for two of yesterday's three runs despite average winds of only 22 and 23 knots on each. The boat was in brilliant form. As easy to sail as any other well developed boat. No evil vices, no tricks... just easy, fast sailing.

"Very few boats could just go and bang out 50 knots as easily as this boat can, run after run. I feel that we have finally refined her to the point where we could put any decent, thrill seeking sailor in that boat and send them down the course on their 50 knot way.

"It seems that we have been hitting some sort of speed limiter around 52 knots (60mph). Time and time again we have hit this peak speed. We have tried sailing in different conditions and using different settings. I have modified the fences on the foils and polished the surfaces until they are mirror like. So, something is not right.

"Even in gusts to 27 knots we never hit the mid-high 50 peaks necessary to drag up a 50+ average over 500 meters. The foil is obviously still working though as the boat sails beautifully... but she seems reluctant to go faster. No doubt we could work through this problem," added a disappointed Larsen.

"If we had one more shot then I would chop off about 25% from the rudder and remove 50% of the fence area. We only need to find another 2 knots...less in fact! Unfortunately this would require a whole nother world record period with the time and expense that goes with it. It's a big commitment. If it was our only option... then that is what I would do.

"But it's not. That same resource can go into the real future of the project. As a team we will discuss this. We know we can go faster... I also know that Hydroptere, Maquarie Innovations and the kitesurfers can go faster. The kiters are set to tear up Luderitz lagoon in the coming weeks and I'm sure they have fire in their eyes.

"So this marks the end for this current boat. A boat that will one day be remembered as a true pioneering breakthrough. I will put her away in cotton wool with full documentation of her settings and configuration. She deserves respect. Malcolm designed a wonderful craft that managed to make it to the end of a very tough learning process for we humans. Both myself and the boat carry the scars from that struggle. I'm proud of them all," said Larsen.

But the Vestas skipper also hinted that this won't be the end of the road: "But... one end also marks a new beginning. Some of you have been quite perceptive actually. We will announce more within the week," concluded Larsen.