Photos Courtesy of Steb Fisher Photography
In 1993, an Australian team, with their yacht “Yellowpages Endeavour”, broke the World Sailing Speed Record. The new mark was set at 46.52 knots (86.52 km/h) in only 19 – 20 knots of wind. The World Sailing Speed Record is governed by a body of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Claiming a world record requires the sailing craft to average the highest speed over a 500m course.
The initial design concept was brought to the team by its designer Lindsay Cunningham. The team was between defences of the Little America’s Cup in International C Class catamarans (the fastest course racing yachts in the world) and Lindsay’s proposal sparked the interest in making an attempt at the World Sailing Speed Record.
Prior to 1993, the World Record was held by a French sailboarder and Lindsay was confident that the new concept would be successful. As a testament to the design talent of this world recognised Australian yacht designer, “Yellow Pages Endeavour” set the new world mark in October 1993 – a benchmark that remained for over 11 years.
After setting the World Record, the Yellow Pages team decided to continue to push the limits of speed sailing. A new craft, “Macquarie Innovation” was designed and constructed in an attempt to be the first ever to break the 50 knot barrier. On March 26, 2009 they did.
Now in March of 2009, they have lifted their own ‘C’ class record and come within a whisker of breaking the outright record of 50.57 knots, now in the hands of kite boarder Alexandre Caizergues.
This morning co-pilot Tim Daddo saild ‘we created a little piece of yachting history on Thursday night.
‘During that run we hit a peak speed of over 100 km/hr (54 knots) and while the claimed average speed, (50.43) which is about to be sent for ratification, will be reduced to 50.08 knots due to the tidal allowance, we have sailed our craft in excess of 50 knots.
‘We will be making a claim for a new class ‘C’ record, which will be just shy of the current outright world record.
‘It is the culmination of over 15 years of work by the team and their loyal group of supporters.’
