3 questions to Antoine Albeau

15/11/2023

Taking part in the entire Lüderitz Speed Challenge this year, Antoine Albeau was determined to beat his speed record of 53.27 knots set in 2015. But that was without taking into account a bad wipeout which has since handicapped him. Speaking to Windsurfjournal.com, he looks back on his time in Namibia and this accident from which he is gradually recovering.

Windsurfjournal.com: How was the return to the Lüderitz Speed Challenge canal? Has the canal changed since you last took part in 2015?
Antoine Albeau: For me, it's a must. I would have liked to come every year but there was always a World Cup final. It was difficult to come for 1 or 2 weeks knowing that it was a fairly expensive trip each time. It's also a time-consuming destination, with a 12-15 hour flight and as much driving to do afterwards from South Africa. The return trip on the canal was perfect. The last time was in 2015, when I set the record and did a lot of runs during the month I was there. The 1st time I entered the canal, it was as if I hadn't sailed there for 2 or 3 months. The canal hasn't changed. There were plans to modify it so that the run would be a little less downwind. From experience, I like it when it's very downwind and I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be. The disadvantage of this type of channel is that you get a rolling chop, which is pushed by the wind, forms like a swell and grows until the end of the channel. I'd prepared a board with a different run in mind but I didn't need it. We had quite a lot of chop during the first few sessions. After that, the wind is quite changeable and, as always, you have to catch the right moment.

WJ: Why did you come to the Lüderitz Speed Challenge? Do you have anything to test as part of the Zephir Project?
AA: My first objective is to beat my record and this time average 100 km/h over 500 metres. I'm currently at 53.27 knots, or 98.65 kph. I don't need much more to go to 100 km/h. That's why I'm in Lüderitz for the duration of the attempt. I missed the very start but there was no wind. We had 2 great days as soon as I arrived. On the 1st day, I was in 5.7 m² and again 5.7 then 5.3 the following day in order to prepare this last sail for the windier days to come.

WJ: Everything was going really well until last weekend and a bad wipeout... Can you tell us what happened? And what happens next?
AA: Yes, everything went well at first. I was able to test some masts developed with Nautix. I also tested a number of equipment combinations, changing boards, fins, etc. On the 2nd day, the wind was stronger, so I sailed with a weight jacket. During my 1st run, just after passing the final camera, when you straighten up and go up a bit to slow down, I rubbed the windward side of the bank. That threw me off balance and I let myself go forward. The problem was that there wasn't much water in the canal this year and on the 1st impact, I landed in not even 30 cm of water! So I crashed to the ground with a nice shock to my ribs and the back of my back. So I crashed to the ground with a nice shock to my ribs and the back of my back. I recovered and didn't really feel any pain. I felt it hit hard but it was OK. That was the 1st run and I carried on with my day until the evening. But during the night, things got complicated because I started having trouble urinating and in the morning, I realised that what little I could urinate was blood! I went straight to the doctor. I had lots of tests, X-rays of my pelvis and ribs, an ultrasound scan of my bladder and kidneys, etc. We looked at my stomach and intestines and there was nothing. I took some medication, was able to sleep a bit and started urinating properly. But the very next day, the pain in my back was really too much, worse than the day before. I went back to the doctor and took a painkiller. The next day, the pain was even worse. I had another set of X-rays and ultrasounds, because rib fractures are sometimes more visible a few days later. And still nothing! You'd think it was a big internal haematoma. In the meantime, there had been no wind. On Sunday, there was an interesting weather forecast and I prepared myself well but, from the 1st run, the pain was too strong in my back. I did try a 2nd run but I was doing 47, 48 knots and couldn't really sail well. I told myself it was dead. Since then, it's been the start of the week and the pain is still there. It's not great, even though it's going to be a fairly calm week. As far as I'm concerned, it's not a bad thing, it'll help me get better. I'm obviously disappointed, but that's the way it is. I hope things will get better. There's still 2 weeks to go and I hope that the conditions will return and that my back will finally feel better, which seems to have been the case for the last 24 hours!