Throughout the month of July, Team Pryde stars Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Antoine Albeau, and Anders Brignal will be joined in Gran Canaria by Robby Naish in an historic attempt to break the World Speed Record, which currently stands at 46.52 knots. Speedseeker is the codename for the sail that has been developed amid tight security at the Neil Pryde Design Centre in Maui, with the sole aim of breaking the existing record and hopefully pushing beyond this to break the elusive 50 knot barrier.

Tell us a little about how the idea where we needed to go with Speedseeker project came our later designs. into being. After the Canaries we continued Well the project really began last adapting the RS sails, making year with Bjorn Dunkerbeck’s modifications according to Bjorn’s attempt to break the World Speed requirements and we definitely saw Sailing Record in the Canaries. At an improvement in the performance. that time we hadn’t done any specific But this was still basically a modified development for a speed sail, Bjorn Racing sail rather than a purebred was simply using his RS Racing sails rig and we knew that and was making a few test runs to we’d have to make a bigger step, Robert Stroj identify where the weak points were really start again from scratch, if we in the sails. wanted to make a serious attempt on the . Earlier this year we met with Neil We made some minor modifications Pryde’s Head of Design, Robert Stroj, right then and there to make the It’s common knowledge that a the man behind the Speedseeker concept. sails a little more “speed friendly”, double surface sail - that’s a sail with In the following interview he tells us adding a little more material to a thicker profile - has certain more about how the Speedseeker enlarge the foot area, as speed sails aerodynamic advantages. So our came into being and about the tend to be used in a more upright first step was to build a fully double innovative new developments behind position than regular slalom sails surface sail. There were two different this remarkable sail. where you are raking the sails back avenues that we chose to explore more. I guess you could say that the with this. Firstly, Bjorn was in touch Canaries attempts were more of a with some people at one of the fact-finding mission to give us some Universities in Barcelona, and they’d come up with kind of a concept very stretch-resistant in one because of this we’ve added more project, which used a light foam that direction, along the direction of the Mini-Battens - there are five in all - was moulded into a wing-like shape Kevlar threads, and it’s a little more and they are a little longer than the and then given a laminated coating. elastic and stretchable in the other regular ones to add more stability direction. and support in the leech area. All this particular prototype really demonstrated was that windsurfing We’ve placed the material in such a Another very unusual aspect of the sails require a high degree of twist, way that the Kevlar threads run Speedseeker sail is that the regular and this foam wing simply couldn’t horizontally, thereby preventing the sail panels and the double surfaced accommodate this, so we soon sail from stretching and getting fuller sleeve have quite a large area of realised that it was almost un- when under load. But the material overlap. Unlike a conventional sail sailable. The theory was good, but can still stretch and flex in a vertical where the panels end where they in practice it just didn’t work. So we direction up the luff curve enabling butt-up against the luff sleeve, the then took the alternative direction the sail to twist freely. So this material Speedseeker has quite a large area and began exploring twin surface was a real breakthrough for us and of overlap (25-30% of the sail area). sails based on more conventional, was the real starting point for the softer, flexible materials. Speedseeker design. What makes this particularly tricky is that the sail panels are designed Our first prototypes were fully double So take us on a quick with shaping in them and the surfaced, but we quickly learned walking tour of the challenge was getting the shaping that these too lacked the necessary Speedseeker in its present to continue smoothly as the panels degree of twist that a windsurfing form, what makes it work? transition underneath the double sail requires. Essentially the two surfaced area of the sail. Fortunately, surfaces of the sail began to fight The first real difference between the the material in the double surface against one another once the sail Speedseeker and the RS Racing is areas stretches in the vertical was in motion and this restricted the the outline. Right away you can see direction and this enables the double natural twist of the sail and began that the Speedseeker has a larger, causing drag. lower foot, to accommodate the more upright speed sailing stance. So where we are today is we have You need to remember that Speed a sail that has about 25-30% double boards are shorter and narrower surface in the leading edge - you than conventional Slalom boards could almost call this an unusually and that speed events are generally oversized luff pocket - and the held in fairly flat water, so it’s really remaining area of the sail is a not a problem to sail in the more conventional single piece which upright position, which improves the forms the “twist-zone”. efficiency of the sails.

We’ve found a very special Kevlar If you look at the leech you’ll see it’s reinforced material for the double again a little different to the RS in surfaced leading edge - what’s that there are none of the Batwing special about the material is that it’s concaves between the battens and surface to accurately follow the sail in one direction. The sail can tension that’s created from the main curves formed by the panel shaping. only be rotated by pushing the lower body of the sail. This added tension part of the sail pretty firmly with your helps give us a nice clean, stable, As I mentioned earlier, double foot. leading edge. surfaces don’t really accommodate twist in the sail. So we’ve varied the With speed sailing you tend to be As far as rig parts go, you’ve width of the double surface to using sails that are about two sizes basically stayed with the facilitate twist where it’s needed. So bigger than you’d normally use, and standard X9 mast and boom you’ll see that the double surface is the aim is to get the sails locked into and with conventional appreciably less wide in the head position. What you don’t want are battens too, is that right? area to leave a large, loose “twist the cams rotating back on area” in the top part of the sail and themselves when you make slight Yes, the rig parts and battens are it’s at its widest at the boom, where adjustments, like sheeting out a little. the same as those we use in the RS the panel tension goes furthest back Racing sails. in the sail almost to the leech. Having done all this Another point of interest on the experimental work with the Speedseeker is the profile. I think Speedseeker where you’ve people will be surprised to see how really been pushing the “full” the Speedseeker is, even quite performance and structural high in the sail. The fact is that unlike boundaries of conventional Slalom courses, where you have sails - were there any upwind and downwind legs, Speed lessons that you’ve learned courses are pointed way further that you’ll put into the next downwind and you only travel in the generation of RS Racing one direction. So Speedseeker sails sails? can stay relatively full because we’re not worried about the upwind angle, Yes, to be honest we had no idea we’re only looking for maximum how this new oversized sleeve efficiency. Because of this fullness construction would work out, but up top, both the 2nd and 3rd battens Another issue with the Speedseeker we’ve been pleasantly surprised at in the Speedseeker have Cams, was the oversized, twin surfaced luff how well it’s been working. With the unlike the RS Racing where we only area. Because of the extreme width first real Speedseeker sail we made have Cams from batten 4 it was difficult to maintain tension in it looked really odd when it was downwards. the sleeve area, so we’ve placed an rigged, but after a few minor additional tension strap at the bottom adjustments back at the loft suddenly With little need to gybe and sail back of the sleeve, which straps onto the it turned into this totally kick-ass sail. upwind, the cams on the extension. You basically downhaul Quite honestly I thought we’d be Speedseeker are set to provide the sail like you would do a messing around for a lot longer maximum stability, in particular the conventional sail, but then you do a before we got it to be as good as bottom two cams are loaded with a further, downward adjustment just the RS, but in fact we seem to have lot of pressure, which helps lock the on the sleeve area, to equalise the got it right very early on. But does this only apply to comes down to the number of sailors sailing in one direction, you taking part. mentioned this before, Speedsailing is pretty much As it is, you only get a few days of one-way traffic, whereas “perfect conditions” during which Slalom courses have upwind records might get set - 45-50 knots and downwind legs? of wind and really smooth water is what you’re looking at these days if No not at all, this was one of the you want to set records - so right nice surprises we got. We were there you’ve got a huge luck factor. expecting the Speedseeker to be all And if you have too many people about the upper end of the out on the water taking turns, then performance spectrum, a specialist the number serious of attempts you Bjorn Dunkerbeck sail that thrived in overpowered get in those perfect conditions will conditions or for sailing downwind. be dramatically reduced. But quite unexpectedly both Bjorn As a former World Champion with and Jimmy [Diaz] reported that the So this time I’m looking to create a 13 World Titles, Bjorn Dunkerbeck sails were going through the lulls situation where I can maximise my has to be the main contender to better and actually pointing better. time on the water in the right break the World later this year. We caught up conditions and really take a serious Now these aspects of performance with Bjorn in Maui last month and shot at a new record. It’s all about were like unexpected bonuses, spoke with him about his involvement being in the right place, with the because actually a speed sail doesn’t in the forthcoming record attempt right equipment, all tuned-in, and really need any of this and we and about his future plans in ready to go when the conditions weren’t actually interested in these windsurfing. arrive. aspects of performance for the Speedseeker. But now we’re So tell us a little about how I’ve spoken with Robert and obviously very interested in seeing you came to be challenging he’s said that the attempt how we can make use of this, we the world ? you made last year on the want to see how we can make our record was really more of a more conventional sails benefit from Well it’s been quite a few years since fact-finding exercise than a these kind of breakthroughs. I last competed in a speed serious attempt - what did competition. There used to be quite you learn from that? As soon as there’s time we’ll be a few speed events, and they’re building an 11sq/m racing sail as a usually a lot of fun, there’s nothing Well probably time was the main benchmark and we’ll see how far quite as exciting as riding at the very issue last year. An we can go with that too. We probably limits, and I think it was this that suddenly arose, we were talking with won’t have the same outline at the made them so enjoyable. But then some people who were willing to foot and the sails most likely won’t I got thinking about why I stopped put on an attempt and pay for the be as full at the top, but the essential the competitions, or what I felt was set-up costs and the timing, and construction looks very promising. wrong about them, and basically it basically all I needed to do was show up and give it my best shot. Without From speaking with Robert, Actually the really good thing about any special preparations or without it sounds like the real having a private speed trial is that any specific development we figured challenge in the sail you have a month to try different we could push the existing RS sails, development has been equipment. As it is, I have already given the right conditions, and that stability and getting the put aside most of June for testing we could make a serious attempt shape all nicely locked-in. as well so I’m hoping to log on the record. somewhere in the region of 100 Yes that’s right, it’s essentially been hours on speed boards even before As it turned out we didn’t actually about efficiency, stability and we begin the official record build get the conditions we really needed. acceleration - it’s this combination up. Then we’ve allowed ourselves 4 We’d get the right wind, but then that’s going to make you go faster weeks of official timed runs - weather the water would be too choppy and in the end. and conditions permitting that is. one way or another it never really came together. Eventually we ran I understand that you’ve out of time and had to pack it in. But developed some “top it was certainly a useful exercise, we secret” new method for still learned a lot from pushing the smoothing the water during gear, you learn so much from sailing runs - are you at liberty to equipment at the limits like that, so tell us more about that? it wasn’t time wasted. I guess you learn something every time you go on the water one way or another. Yes, we have been working on a couple of different methods of So how long have you been eliminating chop in the water within working on the new the boundaries of the speed course Speedseeker rig? - with the water conditions under control, we’ll hopefully only be We’ve already put in a couple of dependent on the wind showing. If months with these new sails and this all works out then I’m looking at they keep getting better and better. And boards, what have you getting quite a few more hours of Hopefully these next few weeks before been looking for there? optimal conditions and these days you July we’ll squeeze even more speed really do need the conditions to be out of them. I’d already confidently We’ve made quite a number of perfect if you want to break the record. say they’re several knots faster than boards; so far I think we’re up to 12 an RS out there on the speed course prototypes that we’ve gone through It’s not an altogether new method and we’re just finding ways to make of various sizes, but it’s boards of that we’re trying, it’s certainly been them even smoother and more between 35cm and 37cm where done before, but never quite stable. It seems that the more sails we’ll be focussing on for breaking perfected - all will be revealed when we make the better they get. records. We’ve been looking at different we’re down in the Canaries in July. tail widths and different concaves. Either way, we’re hoping to get it all working in time for the official feel much more natural, but if all else Ho’okipa, the fitter you are the better sessions and to make the most of fails I guess we’ll have to go to you’ll be out on the water. those extra hours of ideal conditions France and dig another speed ditch to set a new record. and give that a go instead. Right now I’m only focussing on Wavesailing and Speedsailing, which It’s actually all about increasing the So the official plan involves is a perfect combination - when number of hours in which you have three attempts in three there’s no waves I can go record-breaking conditions - and different venues? speedsailing instead. I actually like since we get those conditions so the combination; I enjoy the challenge of going at the limit. It’s also good to rarely you really want to make the I guess I’m actually more interested have the time to put into this, rather most of it. The more time you have, in breaking the record more than than rushing from one race venue to the more runs you can make, you the place where I break it. We have another every second week as we can try different board and fin first to break the current record of did in the old days. combinations and really get your 46.5 knots and then we’re looking gear dialled-in. at the magic 50-knot barrier. In the right conditions I’m actually very For a windsurfer to break this record confident we can break the current you firstly need to have a lot of wind. speed record but 50 knots is going The big tri-marans like Yellow Pages to be a little different. That’s probably can attempt records in 25-28 knots going to take longer than the first of wind, but above that speed the boats session we have planned for the become unstable, so there’s a relatively canaries in July. So we now have narrow window where they can plans to follow this up with two or operate. For a windsurfer you can three more attempts within the usually go faster than the wind speed, coming 10 months. but to break the 46-50 knots records That was actually going to we’ll still need winds in excess of We’ve been talking a lot about be my next question - now the gear, but the other variable 40 knots and we’ll need water that that you’re not so involved in the windsurfing equation is has no chop, so that’s an awful lot in the World Tour how has the human in control of the rig this affected your approach of variables that we can’t control. - have you been undergoing to windsurfing? special physical or mental I’d prefer to do the attempt in the training for this? If anything my windsurfing has got actual open ocean rather than in a better and better. The more time I prepared speed ditch because that Well you know how it is as an athlete, get to spend in the water the better feels more natural. Windsurfing is a the fitter you feel, and the better you I windsurf and now that I’m away very natural sport and we’d obviously perform-so working on my fitness from the structure of the tour I can prefer to see the event held in more has always been something I’ve pick and choose when and where I natural surroundings. For this reason done. It doesn’t matter if it’s sail, so I’m sailing when I want in the chop reduction measures we’ve preparing for the World Cup or if I’m the conditions I want, I don’t have been developing would look and just going wavesailing here at to follow a certain pattern. It’s an unfortunate aspect of contests I’ve been able to travel to some wonderful experience; every day is that you become so focused on your amazing places and sail in perfect, full of surprises. She seems to love heat that you don’t get to windsurf empty waves - having the time to the water and she swims every day all that much in the end. When you’re discover these places and to go if it’s warm. She’s already been out freesailing you can do 4 or 5 hours there in your own time is really the on the ocean on surfboards and on the water whenever the ultimate, it’s perfection. One of the windsurf boards and looking ahead conditions allow for it - so like I’ve shortcomings of running from with her growing up around the said I can definitely feel that my contest to contest and always ocean I guess it’s very likely she’ll windsurfing has got better. focussing on beating everyone else find her own way out into the water you simply don’t have the time or as well, who knows? And you’re still as excited the space to enjoy it. about windsurfing as you Anyway like they say, you never ever were? You’ve had one or two know what it’s going to be like until additions to the Dunkerbeck you finally become a dad and I’ve Yes, although I’m probably less family this past year - you’re got to say that I’m really very happy inclined to go out in bad conditions now married and you have that I’ve found Maria my wife and these days, unless I have to a baby daughter - how has now with little Alba as well, and I’m (laughing). I’ve never really enjoyed this affected your lifestyle? pretty sure that this is not going to light wind sailing or choppy water, be our last addition to the family. I’ll over these past few years I’ve sailed Well little Alba was six months old be sure to keep you posted on that! in what are undoubtedly perfect yesterday and so far we’ve been (Laughing). conditions. With The Search project everywhere together. It’s still a

P.7 WHAT MAKES IT WORK ?

Extra-length Leech 6 Cams - The Speedseeker Battens - in place of the has a distinctly full profile even usual Batwing Leech, we have quite high in the sail. Because added a number of Mini- of this fullness up top, both Battens - there are five in all the 2nd and 3rd battens in the - these are a little longer than Speedseeker have Cams, the regular Leech Battens, unlike the RS Racing where giving added stability and we only have Cams from support. batten 4 downwards.

Dual-Surface Leading Edge - Approximately the first third of the Speedseeker uses a dual surface (essentially a very wide luff) which is made from a new Kevlar reinforced X-Ply material.

The material is specially designed to stretch only in one direction. We’ve placed the material in such a way that the Kevlar threads run horizontally, thereby preventing the sail from stretching and getting fuller when under load. But the material can still stretch and flex in a vertical direction up the luff curve enabling the sail to twist freely.

Low-angle Foot - this helps Luff Tensioning Strap - accomodate the more upright this is located at the bottom speed sailing stance. Speed of the luff sleeve and strapped boards are shorter and onto the extension. You narrower than conventional basically downhaul the sail Slalom boards and that speed like you would do a events are generally held in conventional sail, but then you fairly flat water, so it’s really do a further, downward not a problem to sail in the adjustment just on the sleeve more upright position, which area, to equalise the tension improves the efficiency of the that’s created from the main sails. body of the sail. This added tension helps give us a nice clean, stable, leading edge.