A New Zealand team has stunned the sailing world by shattering the wind-powered speed record after hitting a staggering top speed of 222.4 km/h on Monday at Lake Gairdner, a dry salt lake in South Australia.
The Emirates-sponsored team's "boat" – aptly named 'Horonuku', which means "to glide quickly over the earth" in Maori – sailed past the previous record of 202.9 km/h registered by Richard Jenkins (UK) in March 2009.
"The team and I are buzzing to have sailed Horonuku at a speed faster than anyone ever has powered only by the wind," captain Glenn Ashby told Yachting News.
Ashby paid tribute to the team and favourable conditions: "No matter how prepared you are, you cannot achieve a result like this without an amazing team around you and a little help from Mother Nature."
Despite the team's accomplishment, which will soon be officially certified by The World Landsailing Organisation ('Fédération Internationale de Sand', or FISLO), Ashby stressed that the ultimate goal has not yet been reached.
"The objective has never been about just beating the record, it has always been about pushing things to the limit and going as fast as we possibly can."
The Auckland-based team are the current holders of the America's Cup, the world's oldest and most prestigious sailing competition. They are strong favourites to defend their title in Barcelona in 2024. Ashby and co. will again attempt to break the world record in the same year.
"We know Horonuku has a lot more speed in it when we get more wind and better conditions," Ashby said. "There is a cause for a celebration, but this isn't the end."
