Kitefoilers racing during the around-the-island circumnavigation on Sunday during the Heineken Regatta.
MARIGOT--Guadeloupe kitefoiler Sébastien Queney set a benchmark time of 1:29:32 seconds for circumnavigating the island on Sunday, March 3, on a kitefoil board during the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, but fell short of equalling or beating the record set by the trimaran Phaedo of 1:19.
Kitesurfers were allowed by the Heineken Regatta Race Committee to attempt an around-the-island record as a test for possibly including Kitefoiling (it is a new discipline to be included in the Paris 2024 Olympics) in the Heineken Regattas in the future. They were also included in the regatta results at Sunday’s prize-giving in Port de Plaisance.
A handful of experienced riders took on the challenge, starting from Orient Beach on Sunday around midday and finishing at Orient Beach. The record attempt was organised by Club Wind Adventures which also provided the security and safety boats.
Three of the most experienced riders went for the record competitively to set a reference time, while three others from St. Martin, Theo Demanez, Stanislas Rodriguez, and Bruno Sutter went around the island in a leisure mode.
Second to finish, also from Guadeloupe, was Marc Dubrulle five minutes later (1:34) while professional board sailor Julien Quentel who is equally adept at kitefoiling, finished third, eight minutes later (1:38).
“The record set by Phaedo could have fallen, the wind conditions were good, but the Guadeloupeans got a little bit lost,” explained Emmanuel Demanez from Wind Adventures. “With average speeds of 18-19 knots and peaks at 30 knots, it was an unforgettable experience for them to race in safety, and it is in any case a reference time that I’m sure can be beaten next year with the right conditions.”
Demanez thanked the Heineken Regatta organization, the volunteers and the kitefoilers for participating.
