THE FIFTY KNOT CLUB
BRENDAN LOHRO
At the age of 19, Brendan Lorho became the youngest windsurfer on the planet to break 50 knots clocking up an incredible 50.62 knots on the 500m course, at the beginning of December in Lüderitz. Naturally, we had to find out what it’s like for a nineteen-year-old to fly down the canal at breakneck speeds with the constant thought of “Don’t wipe out!” playing on repeat in his head.
We caught up with Brendan to hear about his journey, the gear he used, and how it feels to join the exclusive “50-Knot Club.”
Photos: Pete Davis and 113photosport!
FIRST RUN
Well, my first run was scary, I think I did around 32 knots down the canal. That felt impressive to be honest.
Sailing down the canal so easy on the videos, but it is a very technical piece of water. The slingshot corner is where all comes to life, and bad corner = bad run in short.
The first few days, I clocked a lot of runs. I was getting used to the canal, getting used to the gear, tuning it, and slowly watching the speed go up. Everything single detail matters on the canal, your stance, your start, your corner, fin size, boom height, mast position and sail tuning is critical, downhaul uphaul, I learned so much about it.
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- Photo Pete Davis
GEAR BREAKDOWN
SAILS
I was on 5m that day, with most of the big guys on 5.2 and 5.3. Knowing I am 30kg lighter it was a good size for me.
Tuning for Lüderitz is a bit special. With the angle downwind so wide, it needs some specific tuning.
Boom outhaul and uphaul were really specific for the canal. I would not be using those extreme setups in La Palme for example, as there the race course is way more square than in Lüderitz. It took a while to find the right tuning, and I cannot thank Pete Davies enough for his help.
There is no magic recipe I would say, run with what you are comfortable with, be curious to try the tuning of people that are willing to help you. It only takes one run to test and try, and maybe you like at setting, maybe not but you can always revert back. Boom heights has also a big influence on the lift of the board, especially in the strong gusts in Lüderitz. Thomas Moldenhauer advised me in between two runs, and it worked pretty well to control the lift.
BOARDS
I took four different boards with me. A production AV-boards 45, a proto AV40 (one that I did my 50kts max with in La Palme), the production AV40 and a proto-AV 38. I received a great support from Hervé Bastide, the AV-Board manager.
I used all four boards on the channel, clocked about 48kts on the AV45, with my proto AV40 around 49, and the production AV40 I did the 49.86 run with it.
The main difference between my proto AV40 and the AV40 production, is that the production has a pintail with less volume, so it works much better on the canal.
The AV38 proto is a beast. It took me some time to get used to it. I am a 46 shoe size so the water was kind of tickling my toe! But after a few runs and some tuning and getting comfortable in the straps, the I loved the board.
After the 27th of November I mostly only used the 38 with 19cm asymmetrical chopper fin v3.
MAGIC FORMULA
I am about 1.87m tall and weigh 75kg. I used up to 12kg extra weight on the strong days, and that’s about it!
I always sailed with my super-duper profiled yellow helmet. It is just a basic helmet! People ask me why I always wear it, well I feel comfortable with it, I’m used to it for the IFCA/PWA races so it’s part of me.
Interestingly, I performed my best speeds when it was not the strongest wind. There is this point where it becomes too strong and the rolling chop generated by the wind is such that you can’t go any faster.
I discussed the ideal conditions for long time with my dad, and we both agreed that the ideal will be around 40-50kts wind! That is where we easily do 50 knots plus and we could improve our gear to go even faster in that type of wind, and that is when the channel’s natural water condition is so much flatter.
I know a lot of guys think we need a 60 knots sandstorm with stones flying to do the record, but I’m just not sure personally that those are my record conditions. The issue is those 60 plus knot days are rare conditions and it is hard to have the perfectly tuned gear for those days. I believe we could improve our performance much easier in the 40 to 50kts wind range.
There were some lighter days where Gunnar and Antoine did over 50 using 5.7 or 5.5 and the canal was so flat. Anyway, that is just my newbie opinion there.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Honestly, when I saw the canal the first day and thought… there is no way I can windsurf here. Just the thought of sailing down that strip was scary! I think Jenna Gibson felt similar. But the more you see it, the more you ride it and get accustomed to it and then the more it becomes your own personal speed garden.
Raffa the organiser, has such a great knowledge of the local conditions, the ground, how to set it up, and he was super cool to open the canal for us on those not so windy days like on the 13 November and the 21-23 November (usually the canal does not open) but as there was some delay with the crane sinking. Raffa and his team made it all perfect and we used those not so windy days, to tune in, get used to the canal and improve our gear and stance. He was open to suggestions, and they even spent some mornings with Antoine and the workers went to make it even better towards the end, after the 300m.
We had a wonderful canal this year, the first 300m were like a dream flat carpet, then we had the little comma, at 300m and the opening to the end, that could become a bit choppier based on the wind angle.
The canal was super nice this year, thanks to the great work from Raffa and the local crew. Also, a quick note to say a huge thank you to Pete Davies the WSSRC commissioner! That man has more canal knowledge than I could ever dream of. Run after run, he was here for me and the other riders, to help, motivate and push us to go faster… what a super ambiance! Everyone was giving you tips to go faster… like Thomas Moldenhauer telling me drop the boom 4cm and you’ll go over 50, well he was right!
GOALS
I did not set myself any goals really. We took it like an end of year life dream trip! I just came super relaxed and just wanted to get back into the speed life that I like very much. Dad wanted some holidays, so we visited a lot around South Africa, Cape Town, Namibia and Lüderitz. There was so much beautiful wildlife there, it was amazing.
THE BIG 50!
After a few days, and especially after the 27th of November, I was starting to think, maybe that 50 knots could be achieved… first on top speed, then 2sec, then 100m 250m… Simon Pettifer came to Namibia with that 50kts dream also, Jenna Gibson was also right there. We were all working together as one, there was a terrific group motivation between us! It was perfect to keep pushing.
And then the day came! My target was set on the 500m 50kts… the ultimate speed target, that 50 knot 500m club! Less than 30 people in the world have managed to reach that (based on the GPS Speed surfing database).
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- Photo: Pete Davis
The 50 knot run is still in my head like I did it yesterday, and will be for a long time.
The day started really strong with my first run of the day at 47.78, around 11h30! 1 hour later, at 12:20 the wind came in strong, rotating slightly to the perfect direction.
12h24 Bang my first 50 knots run at 50.17…and I was super happy already, you know that moment when you come back and everybody was cheering. The adrenaline was flowing down my body like crazy! And I did not even have time to celebrate, as my brain was telling me to go again, go, go, go!
So, I took my position in the waiting line to go. I did a few runs and it looked like that was it. But no, at 13.29pm, Antoine did his WR, so the wind window was there again, Karo was next and did her new South African Record also, and bang I was next!!!
Three minutes after Antoine, BANG I did 50.62 which felt so nice. I still have goosebumps thinking about it! That run, I was pushing so much. I did almost 53kts peak. Insane!!! Speed is so addictive!!!
Gunnar did the German record straight after me, and that was it for the day, the wind decreased and we could never go as fast.
Sometimes it does not come down to much in speed, just be there at the right time is the key!!!
As a joke, we started drawing on the dusted back window of the pickup, our cartoon motivation coach… and that’s how I set up my daily goals… started low and improved daily.
Well, the youth record is an informal record, there is no such category with the WSSRC unfortunately. But people are saying it, as to their best knowledge they have not seen a youth going that fast.
So, I go with their saying… anyway those runs make you dream of even faster speeds. I was stoked to do a 52.98 knot peak speed, so now I’m dreaming of doing that on 500m… let’s see where the next speed runs will take me, I’m hungry for more for sure!
